Utah Courts Recent Press Notifications

Salt Lake City, Utah—Applications are being accepted for a full-time justice court judge position that will serve Salt Lake City, Utah. The successful candidate will fill a new position recently approved by the Utah Judicial Council.

To be considered for a justice court judgeship in Salt Lake County, candidates must be at least 25 years of age, a citizen of the United States, a Utah resident for at least three years, and have a degree from a law school that would make one eligible to apply for admission to a bar in any state in the United States. In addition, applicants must be a resident of Salt Lake County or an adjacent county either upon appointment or before taking the bench.

Information on judicial retention and performance evaluation is posted on the Utah State Court’s website at www.utcourts.gov under employment opportunities. An application for judicial office must be completed online at justicecourtvacancies.utah.gov before the deadline. The salary range for  the position is $200,210.40 per year and includes benefits. For additional information about working for Salt Lake City, call Kelsey Evans, the Human Resources Recruitment Manager for Salt Lake City, at (801) 535-6699 or email careers@slc.gov.

The deadline for applications is Friday, May 29, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Applications cannot be submitted after the deadline. For questions about the justice courts or the process for filling this position, email Jim Peters, Justice Court Administrator, at jamesp@utcourts.gov.

Utah law requires the Judicial Nominating Commission to submit at least three nominees to Mayor Erin Mendenhall within 45 days of its first meeting. Mayor Mendenhall will then have 30 days in which to select a finalist. Her selection must then be ratified by the Salt Lake City Council and certified by the Utah Judicial Council.

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Provo, Utah —As selected by the Fourth District Court Commissioner Nominating Commission, the three finalists for the 4th District Court commissioner position that will replace Commissioner Marla R. Snow, who is retiring:

·        Megan P. Blakelock; Blakelock Law; resides in Orem

·        Michael T. Balser; Office of Guardian ad Litem; resides in Orem

·        Dustin A. Hardy; Choice Legal Services; resides in Pleasant Grove

The public comment period will be held through Monday, May 4, 2026. A final candidate will then be selected by the judges of the 4th District Court bench. The selection must then be approved by the Utah Judicial Council.

To submit written comments about the candidates, please contact Mark Urry, Trial Court Executive, at marku@utcourts.gov.

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Salt Lake City, Utah — Following reports in the media about allegations involving Justice Diana Hagen, the Utah Supreme Court issues the following statement:

Justice Hagen’s last involvement in the League of Women Voters case was in October 2024. After she reconnected with a number of old friends in the spring of 2025, she informed the Supreme Court that she had updated her recusal list and was recusing herself from further involvement in the case. Her ex-husband’s allegations post date her involvement in League of Women Voters.

In December 2025, when Justice Hagen’s ex-husband’s allegations surfaced, Justice Hagen informed the court that she would report the allegations to the Judicial Conduct Commission so that the matter could be investigated and resolved in accordance with the process mandated by the Utah Constitution. In response to multiple requests, Justice Hagen provided the following comment:

• I never operated under a conflict of interest while performing my judicial duties. My last involvement in the redistricting case was October 2024. I voluntarily recused myself from all cases involving Mr. Reymann in May 2025, and my recusal was reflected in the Court’s September 15, 2025 opinion in League of Women Voters. I took prompt, prudent, and transparent steps in response to the allegations made by my ex-husband, including reporting them myself to the Judicial Conduct Commission and submitting a sworn statement. The Judicial Conduct Commission recently reviewed the matter, dismissed the complaint, and closed the case. I remain committed to upholding the highest standards of judicial ethics, integrity, and impartiality.

The Judicial Conduct Commission is the entity established in the Utah Constitution and given the authority to “investigate and conduct confidential hearings regarding complaints/against any justice or judge.” The purpose of the Judicial Conduct Commission is to ensure that judges are investigated by an independent body made up of two members of the House of Representatives appointed by the speaker of the House, two members of the Senate appointed by the president of the Senate, three persons appointed by the governor, two members of the Utah State Bar and two judges appointed by the Utah Supreme Court.

As the sole entity authorized to investigate allegations of misconduct against a judge, the Judicial Conduct Commission received the allegations in their entirety and conducted an independent investigation. The Judicial Conduct Commission completed their investigation in accordance with their constitutional and statutory authority and dismissed the complaint against Justice Hagen.

The complaint and the proceedings of the Judicial Conduct Commission are, by law, confidential. Despite their protected status, records of the Judicial Conduct Commission were inappropriately released to the public. The Judiciary does not have access to those records and did not release them. The Judicial Conduct Commission has indicated that they did not release them. The inappropriate release of these materials prompted renewed questioning about allegations that were previously investigated and dismissed in accordance with the process established by the Utah Constitution.

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Roosevelt, Utah— The Utah Judiciary invites Duchesne, Uintah, and Daggett County residents to attend a Court Connect town hall on Monday, March 30, 2026, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Union High School in Roosevelt.

Court Connect is a statewide initiative aimed at strengthening public trust in the courts, expanding access to justice, and increasing awareness of court resources and services. This free, public event offers community members a chance to engage directly with Judiciary representatives in an informal, welcoming setting.

These town halls are designed to open doors and build stronger connections between the courts and the communities they serve. They offer the public an opportunity to learn more about the role of the Judiciary, how the courts operate, and how the judicial branch fits into the broader system of government.

What to Expect: 

Attendees will have the opportunity to:

● Better understand the role of the courts in Utah’s justice system

● Ask questions and connect directly with Judiciary representatives

● Discover how to access justice services, including self-help resources and online filing systems

● Learn about court resources available in their community

● Meet judges and court personnel in a less formal setting

These town halls mark the first step in an ongoing effort to create opportunities for the public and community partners to engage directly with the Judiciary. Court Connect events are open to everyone – individual community members, civic organizations, and anyone interested in learning more about Utah’s Judiciary.

Event Details: 

● What: Court Connect Town Hall

● When: Monday, March 30, 2026, 6:00-8:00 p.m.

● Where: Union High School, 850 East Lagoon Street, Roosevelt, Utah 84066

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Ogden, Utah— The Utah Judiciary invites Weber, Morgan, and Davis County residents to attend a Court Connect town hall on Thursday, March 19, 2026, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the 2^nd District Juvenile Courthouse in Ogden.

Court Connect is a statewide initiative aimed at strengthening public trust in the courts, expanding access to justice, and increasing awareness of court resources and services. This free, public event offers community members a chance to engage directly with Judiciary representatives in an informal, welcoming setting.

These town halls are designed to open doors and build stronger connections between the courts and the communities they serve. They offer the public an opportunity to learn more about the role of the Judiciary, how the courts operate, and how the judicial branch fits into the broader system of government.

What to Expect: 

Attendees will have the opportunity to:

● Better understand the role of the courts in Utah’s justice system

● Ask questions and connect directly with Judiciary representatives

● Discover how to access justice services, including self-help resources and online filing systems

● Learn about court resources available in their community

● Meet judges and court personnel in a less formal setting

These town halls mark the first step in an ongoing effort to create opportunities for the public and community partners to engage directly with the Judiciary. Court Connect events are open to everyone – individual community members, civic organizations, and anyone interested in learning more about Utah’s Judiciary.

Event Details: 

● What: Court Connect Town Hall

● When: Thursday, March 19, 2026, 6:00-8:00 p.m.

● Where: 2^nd District Juvenile Courthouse, 165 20^th Street, Ogden, Utah 84401

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Salt Lake City, Utah — The Judicial Council is releasing the following statement regarding S.R.J. 10 Joint Resolution Amending Court Rules Regarding Jury Selection.

Jury service is a vital civic responsibility, and the integrity of that service depends on careful, thorough, and robust jury selection processes.  How jury selection is conducted directly affects the confidence that parties place in jury verdicts — making it essential that the processes be approached with deliberation and care.

During the 2026 legislative session, the method of jury selection — whether conducted in person or virtually — has been the subject of debate (see S.J.R. 10). Those discussions have made clear that any jury selection system must strike a balance among multiple interests: ensuring selection of a fair and impartial jury, respecting the interests of litigants in choosing how selection is conducted, minimizing unnecessary burdens on potential jurors, and administering efficient judicial operations.  That balance is especially critical in felony criminal proceedings, where the stakes for victims, the accused, and the public are most pronounced.

To that end, the Judicial Council will coordinate with the presiding judge in each judicial district to ensure that virtual jury selection (where used) is complemented by an equally effective, robust, and accessible in-person jury selection process for certain felony criminal cases.

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● Ask questions and connect directly with Judiciary representatives

Tooele County, Utah—The Judicial Nominating Commission for Tooele County has selected four nominees for a justice court judge position that will serve Tooele County, Utah. The final candidate will replace Judge John Dow who resigned last month.

Following is an alphabetical listing of the nominees followed by place of employment and city of residence:

• Matthew Brass, J.D., Attorney at Law, resident of Farmington,
• Wayne D. Jones, J.D., Attorney at Law, resident of Tooele,
• Richard Thorne Kennerley, J.D., Attorney at Law, resident of Orem, and
• Jaime Topham, J.D., Attorney at Law and Justice Court Judge in Grantsville, resident of Grantsville.

A comment period will be held through February 1, 2026. Once application materials are provided to Andy Welch, the Tooele County Manager, he will have 30 days to make a final selection. His decision must then be ratified by the Tooele County Council and certified by the Utah Judicial Council. To submit written comments about any of the candidates, please email James Peters, Justice Court Administrator, at jamesp@utcourts.gov.

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Salt Lake City, Utah— The Utah Judiciary invites Salt Lake County residents to attend a Court Connect town hall on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the Matheson Courthouse in Salt Lake City.

Court Connect is a statewide initiative aimed at strengthening public trust in the courts, expanding access to justice, and increasing awareness of court resources and services. This free, public event offers community members a chance to engage directly with Judiciary representatives in an informal, welcoming setting.

These town halls are designed to open doors and build stronger connections between the courts and the communities they serve. They offer the public an opportunity to learn more about the role of the Judiciary, how the courts operate, and how the judicial branch fits into the broader system of government.

What to Expect: 

Attendees will have the opportunity to:

● Better understand the role of the courts in Utah’s justice system

● Ask questions and connect directly with Judiciary representatives

● Discover how to access justice services, including self-help resources and online filing systems

● Learn about court resources available in their community

● Meet judges and court personnel in a less formal setting

These town halls mark the first step in an ongoing effort to create opportunities for the public and community partners to engage directly with the Judiciary. Court Connect events are open to everyone – individual community members, civic organizations, and anyone interested in learning more about Utah’s Judiciary.

Event Details: 

● What: Court Connect Town Hall

● When: Wednesday, January 14, 2026, 6:00-8:00 p.m.

● Where: Matheson Courthouse, 450 South State Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84111

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Heber City, Utah— The Utah Judiciary invites Wasatch County residents to attend a Court Connect town hall on Thursday, January 8, 2026, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the Wasatch County Courthouse in Heber.

Court Connect is a statewide initiative aimed at strengthening public trust in the courts, expanding access to justice, and increasing awareness of court resources and services. This free, public event offers community members a chance to engage directly with Judiciary representatives in an informal, welcoming setting.

These town halls are designed to open doors and build stronger connections between the courts and the communities they serve. They offer the public an opportunity to learn more about the role of the Judiciary, how the courts operate, and how the judicial branch fits into the broader system of government.

What to Expect: 

Attendees will have the opportunity to:

● Better understand the role of the courts in Utah’s justice system

● Ask questions and connect directly with Judiciary representatives

● Discover how to access justice services, including self-help resources and online filing systems

● Learn about court resources available in their community

● Meet judges and court personnel in a less formal setting

These town halls mark the first step in an ongoing effort to create opportunities for the public and community partners to engage directly with the Judiciary. Court Connect events are open to everyone – individual community members, civic organizations, and anyone interested in learning more about Utah’s Judiciary. No registration is required. 

Event Details: 

● What: Court Connect Town Hall

● When: Thursday, January 8, 2026, 6:00-8:00 p.m.

● Where: Wasatch County Courthouse, 1361 S. Highway 40, Heber City, UT 84032

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