Utah Courts Recent Press Notifications

Ogden, UT— The Weber County Nominating Commission has announced the appointment of Clay Willard Stucki to fill the Ogden City Justice Court vacancy. The position will replace Judge Dee William Smith who will resign effective Jan. 2017.

Clay W. Stucki, of Ogden, Utah, received his Juris Doctorate degree from the J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University in 1991, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude and Order of the Coif. After law school, Stucki clerked for the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit as a law clerk to Judge Charles E. Wiggins. Following his judicial clerkship, Stucki has been a practicing attorney in Utah for the past 25 years and has been a partner at Parr Brown Gee & Loveless, Bennett Tueller Johnson & Deere, and most recently, Stucki & Rencher.

Stucki’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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Ogden, UT— The Weber County Nominating Commission has announced the appointment of Michael Sam Junk to fill the Ogden City Justice Court vacancy. The position will replace Judge Andrea W. Lockwood who will retire effective March 1, 2017.

Michael S. Junk graduated from Weber State University in 1984 with a Bachelors of Science degree majoring in Economics. Junk then earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Utah in 1987. After law school he worked for the Ogden, law firm of Campbell & Neeley. In 1989 he was hired by Ogden City as a prosecutor where he has worked for over 27 years. Junk has also prosecuted in Harrisville City and Riverdale City, and teaches at Weber State University as an adjunct professor in the Business Administration department.

Junk’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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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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