Judge Chelsea Koch was appointed to the Third District Court in September 2019 by Governor Gary R. Herbert. She serves Salt Lake, Summit and Tooele counties. Prior to her appointment, Judge Koch practiced criminal defense independently and with the law firm of Yengich & Xaiz, where she represented those charged with state and federal crimes. Judge Koch began her legal career at the Salt Lake Legal Defender Association as a trial attorney. She then transitioned to a position at the Utah Federal Defender office, where she represented those charged with federal crimes in the District of Utah. Once Judge Koch left public service for private practice, she continued to provide indigent defense by serving as a public defender for Tooele County for several years, and serving on the Criminal Justice Act panel for the District of Utah until her appointment to the bench. Judge Koch served as a member of the federal court`s mentor program, formerly served on the attorney misconduct committee for the federal court, and was a former president of the Utah Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Judge Koch received a juris doctorate from the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law in 2000. Judge Koch is currently located in the West Jordan Courthouse.