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United States District Court for the District of Utah

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
United States District Court for the District of Utah
(D. Utah)
LocationOrrin G. Hatch United States Courthouse
More locations
Appeals toTenth Circuit
EstablishedJuly 16, 1894
Judges5
Chief JudgeRobert J. Shelby
Officers of the court
U.S. AttorneyTrina A. Higgins
www.utd.uscourts.gov

The United States District Court for the District of Utah (in case citations, D. Utah) is the federal district court whose jurisdiction is the state of Utah. The court is based in Salt Lake City with another courtroom leased in the state courthouse in St. George.

Appeals from the District of Utah are taken to the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit (except for patent claims and claims against the U.S. government under the Tucker Act, which are appealed to the Federal Circuit).

The United States Attorney's Office for the District of Utah represents the United States in civil and criminal litigation in the court. As of May 4, 2022 the United States attorney is Trina A. Higgins.

Current judges

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U.S. Courthouse for the District of Utah

As of April 12, 2024:

# Title Judge Duty station Born Term of service Appointed by
Active Chief Senior
17 Chief Judge Robert J. Shelby Salt Lake City 1970 2012–present 2018–present Obama
18 District Judge Jill Parrish Salt Lake City 1961 2015–present Obama
19 District Judge Howard C. Nielson Jr. Salt Lake City 1968 2019–present Trump
20 District Judge David Barlow Salt Lake City 1971 2020–present Trump
21 District Judge Ann Marie McIff Allen St. George
Salt Lake City
1972 2024–present Biden
9 Senior Judge David Sam Salt Lake City 1933 1985–1999 1997–1999 1999–present Reagan
11 Senior Judge Tena Campbell Salt Lake City 1944 1995–2011 2006–2011 2011–present Clinton
12 Senior Judge Dale A. Kimball Salt Lake City 1939 1997–2009 2009–present Clinton
13 Senior Judge Ted Stewart Salt Lake City 1948 1999–2014 2011–2014 2014–present Clinton
15 Senior Judge Clark Waddoups Salt Lake City 1946 2008–2019 2019–present G.W. Bush
16 Senior Judge David Nuffer St. George 1952 2012–2022 2014–2018 2022–present Obama

Former judges

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# Judge State Born–died Active service Chief Judge Senior status Appointed by Reason for
termination
1 John Augustine Marshall UT 1854–1941 1896–1915 Cleveland resignation
2 Tillman Davis Johnson UT 1858–1953 1915–1949[Note 1] 1949–1953 Wilson death
3 Willis William Ritter UT 1899–1978 1949–1978[Note 2] 1954–1978 Truman death
4 Albert Sherman Christensen UT 1905–1996 1954–1971 1971–1996 Eisenhower death
5 Aldon J. Anderson UT 1917–1996 1971–1984 1978–1984 1984–1996 Nixon death
6 Bruce Sterling Jenkins UT 1927–2023 1978–1994 1984–1993 1994–2023 Carter death
7 David Kent Winder UT 1932–2009 1979–1997 1993–1997 1997–2009 Carter death
8 John Thomas Greene Jr. UT 1929–2011 1985–1997 1997–2011 Reagan death
10 Dee Benson UT 1948–2020 1991–2014 1999–2006 2014–2020 G.H.W. Bush death
14 Paul G. Cassell UT 1959–present 2002–2007 G.W. Bush resignation
  1. ^ Recess appointment; formally nominated on January 7, 1916, confirmed by the United States Senate on January 18, 1916, and received commission the same day.
  2. ^ Recess appointment; formally nominated on January 5, 1950, confirmed by the United States Senate on June 29, 1950, and received commission on July 7, 1950.

Chief judges

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Chief judges have administrative responsibilities with respect to their district court. Unlike the Supreme Court, where one justice is specifically nominated to be chief, the office of chief judge rotates among the district court judges. To be chief, a judge must have been in active service on the court for at least one year, be under the age of 65, and have not previously served as chief judge.

A vacancy is filled by the judge highest in seniority among the group of qualified judges. The chief judge serves for a term of seven years, or until age 70, whichever occurs first. The age restrictions are waived if no members of the court would otherwise be qualified for the position.

When the office was created in 1948, the chief judge was the longest-serving judge who had not elected to retire, on what has since 1958 been known as senior status, or declined to serve as chief judge. After August 6, 1959, judges could not become or remain chief after turning 70 years old. The current rules have been in operation since October 1, 1982.

Succession of seats

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See also

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References

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