James D. Gilson is a shareholder with Callister Nebeker & McCullough, practicing litigation. He graduated from the University of Utah (BA 1985, JD 1989). Mr. Gilson was a judicial law clerk to the Honorable J. Thomas Greene and later for the Honorable Dee Benson of the U.S. District Court; was an Assistant U.S. Attorney (D. Utah, Criminal Division); and was a shareholder at Van Cott, Bagley. During 2000-01, he served as President of the Utah Chapter of the Federal Bar Association.

Mr. Gilson is currently the Utah Bar’s representative to the Rules of Procedure Committee of the U.S. Judicial Conference. He is also a Screening Panel member of the Ethics and Discipline Committee of the Utah Supreme Court.

Statement of Candidacy

I would be honored to have your vote as a Bar Commissioner for the Third Division. Having practiced law for 19 years in various positions, I understand the challenges we face in our profession, and desire to contribute to improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the Bar, and to improve our profession.

The core functions of the Bar (admissions, CLE, discipline) are sound. Other important functions, including community outreach and member benefits, need greater participation from the over 4,500 members in the Third Division.

If elected, I will work for the following: (1) soliciting and expanding the involvement of more members in bar governance; (2) pro bono, lawyer referral, and other outreach initiatives to expand access to legal services; (3) education, public relations, and legislative efforts to improve the understanding and perception of lawyers and the courts. These services can be done more effectively and with no increase in bar dues. I am against any increase in Bar dues.

There are untapped opportunities for members of the Bar to participate in an organized way in current public policy debates that impact legal rights and services.  For instance, the Bar could facilitate a speakers’ bureau that educators, government, civic and private groups could utilize. 

As lawyers we should do more to contribute in substantive, positive ways to the public discourse on many current topics of concern, such as criminal justice, immigration reform, mortgage foreclosures, and government programs and benefits.  We need to pool our talents to help solve, or to at least help elevate the public dialogue, about important policy disputes.  Through this process the public may better perceive that lawyers are problem solvers, instead of being the problem.  As participants, we will gain increased satisfaction from our profession.

Please join the following lawyers who support my candidacy:

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