In response to recent public calls urging voters to remove judges based on individual rulings, the Utah State Bar emphasizes the importance of understanding how judges are selected, evaluated, and retained in Utah’s merit-based system.
“Utah is nationally recognized for the strength and integrity of its judiciary,” said Bar President Kim Cordova. “Judges are not elected through partisan campaigns. They are chosen through a rigorous process that includes application, screening, and vetting for qualifications, experience, and temperament. The governor makes nominations from a vetted list, and those nominated judges are then confirmed by the Senate.”
Importantly, judges are regularly reviewed by the Utah Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission (JPEC), an independent body that evaluates performance using objective criteria, including legal ability, fairness, integrity, communication skills and judicial temperament. The 13-member commission includes appointees from all three branches of government: four appointed by the governor, four by the Utah Supreme Court, two each by the Senate President and House Speaker, and the executive director of the Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice. No more than seven members may be attorneys, and political balance is required among appointees. These evaluations are publicly available and provide voters with a reliable resource when making retention decisions.
“Judges are bound by ethical obligations to apply the law as written, even when doing so may be unpopular,” said Bar Executive Director Elizabeth Wright. “Disagreement with a specific ruling should not be the basis for removal. A fair court system depends on judges who apply the law consistently for all, without being swayed by public or political pressure.”
The public can learn more about judicial evaluations on the Bar’s websiteor at judges.utah.gov.
