Gov. Gary R. Herbert has appointed Heather Brereton as a judge to fill a vacancy on the 3rd District Court.
“Heather Brereton’s significant trial experience will be a great addition to the 3rd District bench. Her knowledge and work as a criminal defense attorney, specifically with our mental health court system, will be a tremendous asset as we implement criminal justice reform,” said Gov. Herbert.
Brereton is currently the misdemeanor division chief and trial attorney at Salt Lake Legal Defender Association. She has tried more than 50 cases and conducted hundreds of evidentiary hearings representing defendants in death penalty cases as well as mentally ill offenders in the 3rd District Court Mental Health Court. Prior to her service at the Salt Lake Defender Association, she served as a judicial law clerk at the Utah Court of Appeals (1999-2000).
“I am both humbled and honored by the confidence that Governor Herbert has shown in me,” said Brereton. “I will work hard to serve the citizens of the State of Utah as a district court judge.”
Subject to confirmation by the Utah Senate, Brereton will fill the vacancy resulting from the appointment of Justice Constandinos Himonas, who was confirmed to the Utah Supreme Court on Feb. 13, 2015.
