Candidate Information
President-Elect
Thomas J. Bayles is the sole candidate for the office of President-elect. Utah State Bar bylaws state: In the event that there is only one candidate for the office of President-elect, the ballot shall be considered as a retention vote and a majority of those voting shall be required to accept or reject the sole candidate.
Thomas J. Bayles
I am honored to be nominated as President-Elect of the Utah State Bar for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, with the privilege of serving as President for the 2027-2028 term. My service on the Board of Bar Commissioners over the past three and a half years has been an invaluable experience, deepening my appreciation for the Utah State Bar’s commitment to supporting attorneys and advancing the legal profession across our state.
During my tenure on the Board, I witnessed the Bar’s steadfast dedication to fostering professionalism, ethical practice, and providing essential resources to our members. These efforts are crucial to ensuring that Utah attorneys are equipped to serve their clients and communities with integrity and excellence.
As President-Elect, and subsequently as President, I am committed to building upon the solid foundation established by those who have led before me. My vision is to strengthen our Bar community by encouraging meaningful mentorship opportunities, enhancing support for our members, and cultivating collaborative relationships with the legislative branch. I am eager to work with the Board and all members to identify priorities and pursue initiatives that will best serve the Bar and the broader legal community.
I am deeply grateful for the opportunities the legal profession has afforded me, and I approach this role with enthusiasm and a sense of responsibility to give back. I am dedicated to working tirelessly to advance the mission of the Utah State Bar and to ensure our organization remains dynamic, responsive, and supportive of all Utah attorneys.
Thank you for your trust and support. I look forward to serving our profession and our community in the years ahead.
Uncontested Elections
Bar Commissioner candidates for the 1st, 2nd, and 4th Districts are running uncontested and, under the election rules, are declared elected. To find out more about these candidates, please visit our Bar election web page.
Christian Hansen
1st Division
Yvette Donosso
2nd Division
Jeremy Reutzel
4th Division
3rd Division: Four Candidates campaigning for three open seats
Tyler Ayres
For 23 years, my work as a Utah attorney has focused on representing individuals in criminal defense, civil rights, and consumer protection matters—often against powerful institutions. I have seen firsthand that rights only matter when courts are independent and accessible, and when lawyers have the tools and support to advocate effectively. I am running for the Utah State Bar Commission to strengthen both the profession and the justice system it serves.
A functioning legal system depends on an independent judiciary. Courts exist to interpret and apply the law without fear of political retaliation or institutional pressure. This principle traces to the founding era, when separation of powers and life-tenured judges were adopted specifically to prevent legislative or executive domination of the courts. The purpose was clear: individuals must have a neutral forum to challenge government action and vindicate their rights.
That principle remains vital today. Recent legislative proposals in Utah to restructure aspects of the judiciary and redirect certain constitutional challenges have prompted concern across the legal community about preserving judicial independence and maintaining public confidence in the courts. Disagreement among branches of government is normal in a constitutional system; structural efforts that risk politicizing courts are not. The Utah State Bar plays an essential role in educating the public about why independent courts matter and in supporting a justice system that remains balanced and trustworthy.
An organized, independent bar exists for the same reason as independent courts: to protect the public. A strong bar promotes ethical standards, competent advocacy, and access to justice so that constitutional guarantees are meaningful in everyday life. When either the judiciary or the legal profession is weakened, the people—especially those with the least power—are the ones who lose.
Alongside defending the independence and integrity of Utah’s courts, I support practical reforms that help attorneys serve clients more effectively. I support expanding clear, transparent flat-fee options so consumers can obtain experienced representation without fear of unpredictable costs. I advocate for immersive, multi-day CLE programs that foster deeper learning and professional excellence. And I believe meaningful succession planning initiatives are critical to protecting clients and preserving the integrity of their cases when unexpected transitions occur.
The Utah State Bar Commission should be a steady voice for both the profession and the public it serves—supporting attorneys, sustaining the judiciary, and protecting access to justice. I bring decades of courtroom experience, civil rights advocacy, and community engagement to that mission.
I respectfully ask for your support and your vote. Together, we can strengthen the Bar, safeguard judicial independence, and ensure Utah’s justice system continues to serve the people it was created to protect.
Ashley Biehl
My name is Ashley Biehl, and I appreciate your consideration to represent the Third Division of the Utah State Bar Commission.
I hope to serve as your Bar Commissioner, where I would strive to always be a receptive and responsive representative for you—the lawyers of Utah. I commit to remaining open and available for public feedback. I would listen actively to any feedback and serve as a voice for the people within the Commission. I would also work to promote well-being among legal practitioners, protect the independence of the bar, and ensure the bar provides CLEs and services tailored to meet your needs.
I firmly believe that the judiciary plays an important role in the checks and balances of our nation and state, and that an independent Bar serves to protect democracy and ensure fairness in our system. I commit to pursuing policies that promote community-wide access to justice, protect the independence of the bar and the judiciary, and promote civility, ethics, and professionalism.
Professionally, I graduated from the S.J. Quinney College of Law in 2015. I am a Section Director at the Utah AG’s office, in the Education Division. I served on the Nevada Young Lawyers Board from 2018-2022, and then on Utah Young Lawyer’s Division Board from 2022-2025, including as President from 2023-2024. I am passionate about serving the Utah legal community and enjoy being actively engaged in my community. I also serve on the Well-being Committee for Legal Practitioners and am dedicated to ensuring that lawyers have the resources they need to succeed in and outside of the courtroom. Finally, I have dedicated my career to the non-profit and government sectors and would bring a fresh perspective to the Bar Commission.
I am committed to serving the Utah legal community and ask for your vote when you receive the ballot for the next Bar Commissioner online election commencing April 1, 2026.
Ezzy Khaosanga
I put myself forward as a candidate for Third Division Bar Commissioner because I want to represent our profession at a pivotal time for legal engagement. In my five years as a member of the Utah bar, I’ve had the opportunity to serve as a member of the Character and Fitness Committee, a leader of the Young Lawyers Division, and Utah’s Young Lawyer Representative to the American Bar Association’s House of Delegates.
I’m currently an appointed Bar Commissioner and have represented the Third Division at Bar conventions, admissions ceremonies, CLEs, and other outreach events. In short, I am passionate about being involved in our legal community and familiar with how the Bar operates. In my time with the Bar, I’ve seen the growing challenges to the rule of law as well as the opportunities for advancement in the profession.
I believe that lawyers should reflect the communities that they serve. As a first-generation attorney and a Utah native, I’m focused on access to justice and pro bono service. As a plaintiffs employment lawyer with the firm Scholnick Thorne Holland, I also bring the voice of small-firm practitioners. I hope to continue my dedication as a commissioner with your support.
Walter J. Romney
I am grateful for the opportunity to run for Bar Commissioner for the Third Division and would appreciate your support. Having practiced for 28 years at Clyde Snow & Sessions in Salt Lake City, I have been the beneficiary of a robust and strong bar. Service and participation within the bar has provided me with many opportunities to assist those in need of legal assistance. I have had the privilege of being a mentor and have developed many lasting friendships within the bar over my time in practice. I believe having a bar that is responsive and available to its practitioners, whether in government, private practice, public practice, or working for the courts, is essential to maintaining the integrity of our profession. In these troubling times, I will do all that I can to keep the bar strong to help assist those in our profession, as well as to protect and benefit the public. It would be an honor to serve on the Bar Commission. Thank you.
Campaign Message for the Website.
I am grateful for the opportunity to run for Bar Commissioner for the Third Division and would appreciate your support. Having practiced for 28 years at Clyde Snow & Sessions in Salt Lake City, I have been the beneficiary of a robust and strong bar. While at Clyde Snow, I have had the privilege of working and being mentored by two former State Bar Presidents, and have been fortunate to associate with many other past presidents and bar staff. These friends and mentors have devoted large amount of time to service within the bar and have impressed upon me the value of service to the bar members and the public in need of legal services.
To this point, service and participation within the bar and with other legal organizations has provided me many opportunities to assist those in need of legal assistance. I have also been fortunate to have made lasting friendships with many through service. One of the important opportunities I have had is the privilege of being a mentor and assisting several new lawyers navigate the practice. Being a mentor has been incredibly fulfilling and developed many lasting friendships.
At this stage in my career, I think the time is right to become more involved in the bar, and being a Bar Commissioner would be a wonderful way to accomplish my desire for heightened service. I believe having a bar that is responsive and available to its practitioners, whether in government, private practice, public practice, or working for the courts, is essential to maintaining the integrity of our profession. In these troubling times, I will do all that I can to keep the bar strong to help assist those in our profession, as well as to protect and benefit the public. It would be an honor to serve on the Bar Commission. Thank you.