Month: December 2016

Lehi, UT— The Utah County Nominating Commission has announced the appointment of Morgan Laker Cummings to fill the Lehi City Justice Court vacancy. The position will replace Judge Douglas Nielsen who resigned effective Sep. 23, 2016.

Cummings received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Utah in 2005. He graduated from Creighton University School of Law, cum laude, in 2009. Cummings began his legal career with a well-known Utah County firm, where he represented clients in civil litigation, business planning and funding, and prosecuted criminal cases for several municipalities. Cummings later worked for a prestigious health care company negotiating and drafting insurance contracts. Since 2013, he has been the Lehi City Prosecutor and Assistant City Attorney, where he prosecutes criminal cases, practices municipal defense, and advises various departments and commissions within the city.

Cummings’ appointment to the bench is subject to completion of the court’s new judge orientation and certification by the Utah Judicial Council.

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Roy, UT— The Weber County Nominating Commission has announced the appointment of Trent Dee Nelson to fill the Roy City Justice Court vacancy. The position will replace Judge R. Scott Waterfall who retired effective Oct. 31, 2016.

Trent Dee Nelson currently serves as the Assistant City Attorney/Prosecutor for Roy City. He has previously worked as a sole practitioner in the areas of juvenile law, family law, and estate planning. Nelson is a trained domestic mediator, and has a bachelor’s degree from Weber State University in Economics, a law degree from Brigham Young University, and an MBA from Utah State University.

Nelson’s appointment to the bench is subject to completion of the court’s new judge orientation and certification by the Utah Judicial Council.

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Washington City, UT— The Washington County Nominating Commission has announced the appointment of Thad Don Seegmiller to fill the Washington City Justice Court vacancy. The position will replace Judge Lee Bunnell who will retire effective Jan. 1, 2017.

Seegmiller, a southern Utah native, received a Business Degree from Brigham Young University and a Law Degree from University of Montana School of Law. He is licensed to practice law in Utah and Nevada. Seegmiller has practiced in several law firms in southern Utah where he focused on real estate, business, and estate transactions and litigation. Most recently, he holds the position of General Counsel for Sunwarrior, a local health supplement manufacturing company with national and international distribution.

Seegmiller’s appointment to the bench is subject to completion of the court’s new judge orientation and certification by the Utah Judicial Council.
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Randolph, UT— The Rich County Nominating Commission has announced the appointment of the Honorable Judge Trevor Layne Cook to fill the Rich County Justice Court vacancy. The position will replace Judge Ross McKinnon, who will retire effective Jan. 1, 2017.

Judge Cook graduated from Utah State University with a B.S. in management and human resources and earned a law degree from Texas Southern University. After law school he worked as a law clerk for the First District Court of Utah. After his clerkship, Cook joined the law firm of Ericson & Shaw, LLP where he practiced civil law for eight years. In 2012, Judge Cook was appointed to the justice court bench where he serves Nibley City and Mendon City. He is currently employed at Bear River Mental Health Services, Inc. as its corporate compliance officer.

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Highland, UT— The Utah County Nominating Commission has announced the appointment of Kelly Nicole Schaeffer-Bullock to fill the Highland/Alpine City Justice Court vacancy. The position will replace Judge Douglas Nielsen who resigned effective Sep. 23, 2016.

Schaeffer-Bullock graduated from Brigham Young University-Hawaii Campus in 2001 with a B.A., and later earned her J.D. from the J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University in 2008. She has spent the majority of her legal career as a municipal prosecutor, though she gained civil experience when working for the law firm of Bugden & Isaacson, LLC. She also continues serve as a lecturer and researcher at BYU’s law school. Schaeffer-Bullock is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and devoted to the mission of that organization.

Schaeffer-Bullock’s appointment to the bench is subject to completion of the court’s new judge orientation and certification by the Utah Judicial Council.

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Fountain Green, UT—The Sanpete County Nominating Commission has selected three nominees for the vacancy in the Fountain Green City Justice Court. The position will replace Judge Ivo Peterson who resigned July 1, 2016.

Following are the nominees followed by place of employment and residence:
• Nathan Gregg Caplin, J.D., Assistant Professor at Snow College, resident of Manti
• Leslie Ann Gallacher, J.D., Law Partner at Wood, Lindsay, Gallacher LLC, resident of Spanish Fork
• Honorable Mark Kay McIff, J.D., Sevier County, Piute County and Fairview City Justice Court Judge, Attorney at Law, resident of Richfield

A comment period will be held through Dec. 27, 2016, before a final candidate is selected by the Mayor of Fountain Green City, Ronald Ivory, who has 30 days to make an appointment. The appointment is subject to ratification by the Fountain Green City Council. The Utah Judicial Council must then certify the appointment. To submit written comments about the candidates, contact Melisse Stiglich, Administrative Office of the Courts, at melisses@utcourts.gov.
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Spring City, UT—The Sanpete County Nominating Commission has selected three nominees for the vacancy in the Spring City Justice Court. The position will replace Judge Ivo Peterson who resigned July 1, 2016.

Following are the nominees followed by place of employment and residence:
• Nathan Gregg Caplin, J.D., Assistant Professor at Snow College, resident of Manti
• Leslie Ann Gallacher, J.D., Law Partner at Wood, Lindsay, Gallacher LLC, resident of Spanish Fork
• Honorable Mark Kay McIff, J.D., Sevier County, Piute County and Fairview City Justice Court Judge, Attorney at Law, resident of Richfield

A comment period will be held through Dec. 27, 2016, before a final candidate is selected by the Mayor of Spring City, Jack D. Monnett, who has 30 days to make an appointment. The appointment is subject to ratification by the Spring City Council. The Utah Judicial Council must then certify the appointment. To submit written comments about the candidates, contact Melisse Stiglich, Administrative Office of the Courts, at melisses@utcourts.gov.
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East Carbon City, UT—The Carbon County Nominating Commission has selected two nominees for an upcoming vacancy in the East Carbon City Justice Court. The position will replace Judge Linda Murdock who retired on Sep. 30, 2016.

Following are the nominees followed by place of employment and residence:
• Honorable Jon Randall Carpenter, J.D., Carbon County and Wellington City Justice Court Judge, resident of Price
• Rachel Hamilton Walton, Associate Professor at Utah State University Eastern, resident of Price

A comment period will be held through Dec. 27, 2016, before a final candidate is selected by the Mayor of East Carbon City, Douglas Parsons, who has 30 days to make an appointment. The appointment is subject to ratification by the East Carbon City Council. The Utah Judicial Council must then certify the appointment. To submit written comments about the candidates, contact Melisse Stiglich, Administrative Office of the Courts, at melisses@utcourts.gov.
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Morgan, UT— The Morgan County Nominating Commission has announced the appointment of the Honorable Brian Edward Brower to fill the Morgan County Justice Court vacancy. The position will replace Judge Tony Hassell who will retire effective Dec. 30, 2016.

Judge Brian E. Brower earned a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature with a minor in Criminal Justice from Weber State University. He then graduated from the SJ Quinney College of Law at the University of Utah. Upon graduation and passing the bar, he was hired as a Deputy County Attorney for the Weber County Attorney’s Office. He later served as both the Murray City Prosecutor as well as the Layton City Prosecutor before being appointed as Clearfield’s City Attorney in 2007. He served as City Attorney for eight years until being appointed as judge for the Clearfield Justice Court in August of 2015.

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Spring City, UT—The Sanpete County Judicial Nominating Commission has scheduled a meeting on Dec. 15, 2016, to select judicial candidates for the Fountain Green and Spring City Justice Court to replace Judge Ivo Peterson who retired effective July 1, 2016. The commission will begin the meeting at 9 a.m. in the Spring City Offices on 150 E Center Street, Spring City.

The early portion of the meeting is scheduled for public comment about issues facing the Utah judiciary and refinements or improvements to the system. Public comments will be accepted from 9 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Following the public hearing, the meeting is closed to allow commission members to select a slate of three to five candidates for the vacancy.

Individuals interested in appearing before the commission during the public comment portion of the meeting should contact Melisse Stiglich at (801) 578-3844 to request an appointment. Information on the Justice Court Nominating Commission members is available at legacy.utcourts.gov.

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