diff --git a/Core/src/org/sleuthkit/autopsy/corecomponents/GeneralPanel.java b/Core/src/org/sleuthkit/autopsy/corecomponents/GeneralPanel.java
index 3b3c77a876..3d697b07ab 100644
--- a/Core/src/org/sleuthkit/autopsy/corecomponents/GeneralPanel.java
+++ b/Core/src/org/sleuthkit/autopsy/corecomponents/GeneralPanel.java
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ final class GeneralPanel extends javax.swing.JPanel {
     GeneralPanel(GeneralOptionsPanelController controller) {
         this.controller = controller;
         initComponents();
-        ContentUtils.setLocalTime(useLocalTimeRB.isSelected());
+        ContentUtils.setDisplayInLocalTime(useLocalTimeRB.isSelected());
         // TODO listen to changes in form fields and call controller.changed()
     }
 
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ final class GeneralPanel extends javax.swing.JPanel {
     }//GEN-LAST:event_useBestViewerRBActionPerformed
 
     private void useGMTTimeRBActionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {//GEN-FIRST:event_useGMTTimeRBActionPerformed
-         ContentUtils.setLocalTime(useLocalTimeRB.isSelected());
+         ContentUtils.setDisplayInLocalTime(useLocalTimeRB.isSelected());
     }//GEN-LAST:event_useGMTTimeRBActionPerformed
 
     void load() {
diff --git a/Core/src/org/sleuthkit/autopsy/datamodel/ContentUtils.java b/Core/src/org/sleuthkit/autopsy/datamodel/ContentUtils.java
index 3dee14bff4..9cc844cae6 100644
--- a/Core/src/org/sleuthkit/autopsy/datamodel/ContentUtils.java
+++ b/Core/src/org/sleuthkit/autopsy/datamodel/ContentUtils.java
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ public final class ContentUtils {
     private final static Logger logger = Logger.getLogger(ContentUtils.class.getName());
     private static final SimpleDateFormat dateFormatter = new SimpleDateFormat("yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss z");
     private static final SimpleDateFormat dateFormatterISO8601 = new SimpleDateFormat("yyyy-MM-dd'T'HH:mm:ss'Z'");
-    private static boolean localTime;
+    private static boolean displayInLocalTime;
     // don't instantiate
     private ContentUtils() {
         throw new AssertionError();
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ public final class ContentUtils {
     public static TimeZone getTimeZone(Content c) {
         
         try {
-            if (!localTime()) {
+            if (!getDisplayInLocalTime()) {
                 return TimeZone.getTimeZone("GMT");
             }
             else {
@@ -359,18 +359,18 @@ public final class ContentUtils {
                     + cntnt.getClass().getSimpleName());
         }
     }
-    /**sets localTime value based on button in GeneralPanel.java
+    /**sets displayInlocalTime value based on button in GeneralPanel.java
      * 
      * @param flag 
      */
-    public static void setLocalTime(boolean flag) {
-    localTime = flag;
+    public static void setDisplayInLocalTime(boolean flag) {
+    displayInLocalTime = flag;
     }
-    /** returns true if local time is selected. 
-     *  returns false if GMT is selected.
+    /** get global timezone setting for displaying time values 
+     *  
      * @return 
      */
-    public static boolean localTime(){
-        return localTime;
+    public static boolean getDisplayInLocalTime(){
+        return displayInLocalTime;
     }
 }
diff --git a/Timeline/src/org/sleuthkit/autopsy/timeline/Timeline.java b/Timeline/src/org/sleuthkit/autopsy/timeline/Timeline.java
index 952e907562..675bfc318f 100644
--- a/Timeline/src/org/sleuthkit/autopsy/timeline/Timeline.java
+++ b/Timeline/src/org/sleuthkit/autopsy/timeline/Timeline.java
@@ -145,7 +145,6 @@ public class Timeline extends CallableSystemAction implements Presenter.Toolbar,
     private EventHandler<MouseEvent> fxMouseExitedListener;
     private SleuthkitCase skCase;
     private boolean fxInited = false;
-    private static boolean localTime = true;
     public Timeline() {
         super();
 
@@ -932,13 +931,13 @@ public class Timeline extends CallableSystemAction implements Presenter.Toolbar,
             int minute=Integer.valueOf(date[4]);
             int second=Integer.valueOf(date[5]);
 
-            setLocalTime(localTime);
             Calendar calendar = Calendar.getInstance(TimeZone.getTimeZone("GMT")); //set calendar to GMT due to ISO format
             calendar.set(year, month, day, hour, minute, second); 
             day=calendar.get(Calendar.DAY_OF_MONTH); // this is needed or else timezone change wont work. probably incorrect optimization by compiler
            
             //conversion to GMT
-            if (!localTime()) {
+                
+            if (!ContentUtils.getDisplayInLocalTime()) {
                calendar.setTimeZone(TimeZone.getTimeZone("GMT"));
             }
             else{
@@ -1128,20 +1127,6 @@ public class Timeline extends CallableSystemAction implements Presenter.Toolbar,
         initTimeline();
     }
     
-    /**set localTime by getting it from ContentUtils class
-     * 
-     * @param flag 
-     */
-    public static void setLocalTime(boolean flag) {
-        localTime = ContentUtils.localTime();
-    }
-    /**returns whether user has set localTime settings, or GMT if false
-     * 
-     * @return 
-     */
-    public static boolean localTime() {
-        return localTime;
-    }
     private void initTimeline() {
         if (!Case.existsCurrentCase()) {
             return;