Following the organization of the Utah Territory in late 1850, Governor Brigham Young and the legislative assembly created the district courts on 4 October 1851. The courts were designed to be trial courts of general jurisdiction. In February 1852, the legislature further defined the district courts' jurisdiction as being original jurisdiction "both in civil and criminal cases, as well in chancery as at common law." The district court was also granted "general supervision over all inferior courts" to prevent miscarriages of justice. At the district courts' creation they were fully administered by the presiding supreme court justice and court clerk. The first judge to preside over the Second Judicial District Court was Zerubbabel Snow, with Thomas R. King of Fillmore acting as clerk of the court. Later, John F. Kinney became the Chief Justice. The second district court continued until 1896 when Utah statehood was granted, which necessitated changes in judicial organization.