Courts in Utah
| More information on Utah's state courts: |
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| Selection methods Elections Salaries Federal courts |
In Utah, there is one federal district court, a state supreme court, and trial courts of general and limited jurisdiction. These courts serve different purposes, which are outlined in the sections below.
Click a link for information about that court type.
The image below depicts the flow of cases through Utah's state court system. Cases typically originate in the trial courts and can be appealed to courts higher up in the system.
Judicial selection process
- See also: Judicial selection in Utah and Utah judicial elections
Selection of state court judges in Utah occurs almost exclusively through the commission-selection, political appointment method. Following an initial three-year term, appointed judges must be approved by voters in yes-no retention elections, after which they may serve full terms that vary in length by court level.[1]
To read more about judicial elections in Utah, click here.
Federal courts
The federal district court in Utah is the United States District Court for the District of Utah.
Appeals go to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit.
Active judges
| Judge | Appointed By | Assumed Office | Bachelors | Law |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 25, 2012 - |
Utah State Univ., 1944 |
University of Virginia School of Law, 1948 |
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| August 17, 2015 - |
Weber State College, 1982 |
Yale Law School, 1985 |
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| June 12, 2019 - |
Brigham Young University, 1992 |
University of Chicago Law School, 1997 |
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| January 6, 2020 - |
Brigham Young University, 1995 |
Yale Law School, 1998 |
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| April 12, 2024 - |
Brigham Young University, 1994 |
Brigham Young University, J. Reuben Clark Law School, 1997 |
The list below displays the number of active judges by the party of the appointing president. It does not reflect how a judge may rule on specific cases or their own political preferences.
- Democrat appointed: 3
- Republican appointed: 2
Judicial selection
Judges who sit on the federal district courts are nominated by the president of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate. These judges serve life terms. To read more about the judges on these courts, click here.
Bankruptcy courts
There is one federal bankruptcy court in Utah. This court has subject-matter jurisdiction over bankruptcy cases. The federal bankruptcy court in Utah is:
State supreme court
- See also: Utah Supreme Court
| Utah Supreme Court |
|---|
|
| Court Information |
| Justices: 5 |
| Founded: 1894 |
| Location: Salt Lake City |
| Salary |
| Associates: $235,300[2] |
| Judicial Selection |
| Method: Assisted appointment (governor-controlled commission) |
| Term: 10 years |
| Active justices |
| Matthew Durrant, Diana Hagen, John A. Pearce, Paige Petersen, Jill Pohlman |
Founded in 1894, the Utah Supreme Court is the state's court of last resort and has five judgeships. The current chief of the court is Matthew Durrant. In 2018, the court decided 212 cases.
As of September 2022, all five judges on the court were appointed by a Republican governor.
The Utah Supreme Court is located in Salt Lake City, Utah.
In Utah, state supreme court justices are selected through assisted appointment with a governor-controlled judicial nominating commission. Justices are appointed by the governor with the assistance of a commission with a majority of members selected by the governor. There are 10 states that use this selection method. To read more about the assisted appointment of judges, click here. The Utah Supreme Court has original jurisdiction over matters of state law that were certified from federal courts, and can also issue extraordinary writs. The court has appellate jurisdiction for cases of first degree and capital felony convictions from the district court. Appellate jurisdiction also extends to civil judgments besides domestic cases. The court reviews the administrative proceedings of the Public Service Commission, the Tax Commission, the School and Institutional Trust Lands Board of Trustees, the Board of Oil, Gas, and Mining, and the State Engineer. Additionally, the supreme court also has jurisdiction over the rulings of the Utah Court of Appeals by writ of certiorari and both constitutional and election questions. The court makes final rulings of interpretation of the Utah Constitution, as well as adopting rules for civil and criminal procedure and rules of evidence for use in the state courts. The court has administrative power over the Judicial Conduct Commission and the practice of law in the state, including admission, conduct, and discipline of attorneys.[3]
The table below lists the current judges of the Utah Supreme Court and the appointing governor.
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| Office | Name | Party | Date assumed office | Appointed by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Utah Supreme Court | Matthew Durrant | Nonpartisan | 2000 | Michael O. Leavitt (R) |
| Utah Supreme Court | Diana Hagen | Nonpartisan | May 18, 2022 | Spencer Cox (R) |
| Utah Supreme Court | John A. Pearce | Nonpartisan | January 29, 2016 | Gary Herbert (R) |
| Utah Supreme Court | Paige Petersen | Nonpartisan | January 19, 2018 | Gary Herbert (R) |
| Utah Supreme Court | Jill Pohlman | Nonpartisan | August 17, 2022 | Spencer Cox (R) |
State court of appeals
- See also: Utah Court of Appeals
The Utah Court of Appeals is the intermediate appellate court in Utah. It was formed in 1987 and is one of two state appellate courts. The other state appellate court in Utah is the Utah Supreme Court.
The following judges sit on the court:
| Judge | Tenure | Appointed By |
|---|---|---|
|
2010 - Present |
Gary Herbert |
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August 18, 2021 - Present |
Spencer Cox |
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January 18, 1987 - Present |
Norman Bangerter |
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July 14, 2016 - Present |
Gary Herbert |
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2017 - Present |
Gary Herbert |
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October 28, 2022 - Present |
Spencer Cox |
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February 17, 2023 - Present |
Spencer Cox |
Trial courts
District courts
- See also: Utah District Courts
The Utah District Courts are trial courts of general jurisdiction. They have original jurisdiction over civil cases, criminal felonies, and certain misdemeanors in Utah. The district courts also hear domestic relations cases, small claims cases, probate cases, and appeals from justice courts.[4][5]
Juvenile courts
- See also: Utah Juvenile Courts
The Juvenile Courts in Utah have original jurisdiction over minors who violate federal, state, or municipal laws. They also have original jurisdiction in cases of child abuse, neglect, or dependency. The courts have concurrent jurisdiction with district and justice courts in cases where adults are involved in a minor's delinquency or neglect.[6]
Justice courts
- See also: Utah Justice Courts
Utah Justice Courts are trial courts established by counties and municipalities in Utah.
According to the Judicial Branch of Utah, justice courts...[7]
| “ |
...are established by counties and municipalities and have the authority to deal with class B and C misdemeanors, violations of ordinances, small claims, and infractions committed within their territorial jurisdiction. Justice Court jurisdictions are determined by the boundaries of local government entities such as cities or counties, which hire the judges.[8] |
” |
In other states
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Utah," archived October 6, 2014
- ↑ The salary of the chief justice may be higher than an associate justice.
- ↑ Utah Courts, "Supreme Court," accessed August 20, 2021
- ↑ Utah Courts, "Navigating the Court System," accessed March 9, 2021
- ↑ Utah Courts, "An Overview of the Utah District Courts," accessed March 9, 2021
- ↑ Utah Courts, "An Overview of the Utah Juvenile Courts," accessed March 9, 2021
- ↑ Utah State Courts - The Judicial Branch of Utah, "An Overview of the Utah Justice Courts," accessed April 11, 2025
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
Federal courts:
Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: District of Utah • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: District of Utah
State courts:
Utah Supreme Court • Utah Court of Appeals • Utah District Courts • Utah Juvenile Courts • Utah Justice Courts
State resources:
Courts in Utah • Utah judicial elections • Judicial selection in Utah
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