JUSTICE STEPHEN DENT TAKES OATH OF OFFICE

Salt Lake City, Utah – Justice Stephen P. Dent took the oath of office as a member of the Utah Supreme Court on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026, during an investiture ceremony in the Supreme Court chambers at the Scott M. Matheson Courthouse.

Associate Chief Justice Jill M. Pohlman administered the ceremonial oath of office. Judge Scott M. Matheson, Jr. and Judge Robert J. Shelby, for whom Justice Dent served as a law clerk, spoke at the investiture ceremony.

“It is an honor to serve the people of Utah,” Justice Dent said. “I am grateful to Governor Cox for nominating me and to the Senate for confirming me. I am honored to serve alongside my colleagues on the Supreme Court. And I am committed to faithfully applying the law as an impartial judge.”

 “Justice Dent brings an exceptional legal mind, a deep respect for the rule of law and a strong commitment to public service to the Utah Supreme Court,” Associate Chief Justice Pohlman said. “We are pleased to welcome him to the Court and look forward to serving alongside him as we carry out our responsibility to administer justice fairly and impartially for the people of Utah.”

Gov. Spencer J. Cox appointed Justice Dent to the Utah Supreme Court in June 2026, and the Utah Senate unanimously confirmed his appointment. On June 22, Justice Dent was sworn in and began his work on the court.

Prior to joining the Court, Justice Dent served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah, where he also served as Deputy Criminal Chief and Southern Utah Branch Chief. He previously practiced at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP and began his legal career as a judicial law clerk for the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit.

Justice Dent earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Brigham Young University and a law degree from the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law, where he graduated first in his class, received the Dean’s Award, and served as editor-in-chief of the Utah Law Review.