The final full day of the Utah State Bar’s 95th Anniversary Summer Convention reflected on the profession’s past while looking confidently toward its future. Attorneys, judges, and legal professionals gathered for reports from Bar and judicial leaders, the swearing-in of new officers and commissioners, recognition of distinguished award recipients, candid conversations with the judiciary, and an inspiring keynote address from former U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson. The day concluded with practical CLE breakout sessions, bringing three days (August 6-8, 2026) of education and fellowship to a memorable close.

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A Year of Progress

The morning opened with a final report from outgoing Utah State Bar President Kim Cordova, who reflected on the accomplishments of the past year with gratitude and humility. She credited the success of her presidency to the collaborative leadership of the Board of Bar Commissioners and the dedication of the Bar’s professional staff, thanking them for their tireless efforts in advancing the Bar’s mission and serving Utah’s legal community.

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Reports from the State and Federal Judiciary

Chief Judge Jill Parrish provided attendees with an overview of the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah, highlighting both the strength of the federal judiciary and the demands placed upon it.

She reported that the District is currently served by six senior judges in the makeup of:

• 11 U.S. District Judges
• 5 U.S. Magistrate Judges
• 3 U.S. Bankruptcy Judges

Judge Parrish also shared statistics illustrating the court’s significant workload, including civil, criminal, and minor cases (speeding in National Parks), while noting that the court conducts an average of 14 jury trials each year. Her remarks underscored the dedication of Utah’s federal judiciary in efficiently administering justice despite the demands.

Justice Paige Petersen followed with an update on the Utah Supreme Court during what has been one of the most significant periods of transition in recent history.

She discussed the Legislature’s expansion of the Supreme Court from five to seven justices and explained that, while the Court has been operating during the transition, the two newly created seats will officially be filled on August 31. Justice Petersen offered heartfelt gratitude to the federal and district court judges who stepped in on a few cases during this transition, recognizing their willingness to serve whenever called upon.

She also welcomed the Court’s newest members:

• Justice John Nielsen
• Justice Jay Jorgensen
• Justice Stephen Dent

Justice Petersen paid tribute to former Justices John Pearce and Diana Hagen, thanking them for their years of distinguished service and lasting contributions to Utah’s judiciary.

The morning’s emotion continued as Justice Petersen accepted the Bar’s Lifetime Service Award on behalf of Chief Justice Matthew B. Durrant. Her remarks honoring his decades of visionary leadership, unwavering commitment to access to justice, and transformative impact on Utah’s courts culminated in a standing ovation from the audience.

Honoring Judge of the Year

Among the convention’s distinguished honorees was Hon. James D. Gardner, who received the Bar’s 2026 Judge of the Year Award in recognition of his exemplary judicial service and steadfast commitment to Utah’s legal community. Since joining the Third District Court in 2014, Judge Gardner has earned widespread respect for his fairness, professionalism, and thoughtful approach from the bench. Beyond the courtroom, he has devoted countless hours to advancing the profession through his service on the Utah Judicial Council, the Utah State Bar CLE Advisory Committee, and numerous initiatives focused on judicial excellence and professionalism.

Throughout the convention, Judge Gardner’s commitment to mentoring lawyers and strengthening advocacy was also evident as he shared his experience during CLE programming, exemplifying the collaborative spirit and dedication to public service that define this year’s award recipients.

Welcoming a New Generation of Bar Leadership

Justice Petersen also administered the oaths of office to the Bar’s incoming officers and newly elected Commissioners.

The Bar welcomed:

• Tyler Young, President
• Tom Bayles, President-Elect
• Nicole Johnston, Young Lawyers Division President
• Yvette Donosso, Commissioner
• Jeremy Reutzel, Commissioner
• Christian Hansen, Commissioner
• Ezzy Khaosanga, Commissioner
• Ashley Biehl, Commissioner

The Bar also expressed its sincere appreciation to outgoing Young Lawyers Division President Alex Vandiver for her dedicated leadership and service.

Following the swearing-in ceremony, newly installed President Tyler Young delivered heartfelt remarks that centered on the people who make the legal profession meaningful. Rather than seeing “the legal system,” he said, he sees the faces of mentors, colleagues, friends, and family members whose examples define the profession for him. He thanked several individuals by name for the influence they have had throughout his career and paid special tribute to his father for modeling integrity, service, and leadership, as well as expressing gratitude for the unwavering support of his family.

Young concluded with a thoughtful challenge to everyone in attendance. At 10 p.m., he encouraged each person to spend time sitting quietly in reflection, then rise early enough to watch the sunrise the following morning. Taking time to consider who we are, why we do this work, and what our purpose is, he said, is an experience that can profoundly shape both our personal lives and our professional calling.

Honoring Excellence

The convention also celebrated members of Utah’s legal community whose careers exemplify service, professionalism, and leadership.

This year’s recipients included:

• Lifetime Service Award: Chief Justice Matthew B. Durrant
• Lawyer of the Year: R. John Moody
• Judge of the Year: Hon. James D. Gardner
• Special Service Award: D. Gilbert (Gil) Athay
• Committee of the Year: Governmental Relations Committee
• Section of the Year: Utah State Bar Paralegal Division

Together, these honorees represent the dedication that continues to strengthen Utah’s legal profession and the administration of justice.

A Conversation with the Courts

The judicial panel, A Conversation with Our Courts, provided attendees with an honest discussion about the evolving challenges facing Utah’s state and federal courts. Panelists spoke candidly about judicial transitions, the construction of the new U.S. District Courthouse in St. George, increasing caseloads, limited staffing resources, and the continued commitment to delivering fair and accessible justice throughout the state.

The openness of the judges offered attendees valuable insight into the realities of today’s judiciary and reinforced the importance of collaboration between Utah’s bench and bar.

Jeh Johnson’s Call to Protect Democracy

Former U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson delivered an inspiring keynote address drawn from his work as co-chair of the American Bar Association Task Force on American Democracy.

Johnson emphasized that preserving constitutional democracy requires active engagement from the legal profession. He highlighted recommendations to strengthen civics education, safeguard elections and election workers, improve voting access while maintaining election security, combat political disinformation and AI-generated deception, reinforce lawyers’ ethical obligations, strengthen legal education, and promote respectful civil discourse.

His message reminded attendees that lawyers serve not only their clients but also the Constitution and the rule of law. The audience responded with a standing ovation in appreciation of his thoughtful and timely remarks.

Closing with Practical Learning

The afternoon concluded with the convention’s final series of CLE breakout sessions, offering attendees opportunities to deepen their knowledge across a wide range of practice areas.

Topics included:

• Becoming Better Advocates, featuring judges and experienced litigators sharing practical advocacy skills.
• A Young Lawyers Division program on mentoring, lawyering skills, and attorney well-being.
• What’s the Deal With Securities?, using Seinfeld as a creative framework for understanding securities law.
• AI’s Evolution & the Future of Foreseeability, exploring how artificial intelligence is reshaping legal duties and liability.
• Giving Context to the Colorado River Conundrum, examining the legal history and future challenges surrounding western water law.

These sessions brought three outstanding days of continuing legal education to a fitting conclusion, equipping attorneys with practical knowledge while reinforcing the profession’s shared commitment to excellence.

Looking Ahead

As the Utah State Bar approaches its centennial in 2031, the final Summer Convention in Sun Valley served as both a celebration of the organization’s remarkable legacy and an affirmation of its future. Through thoughtful leadership, honest dialogue, recognition of extraordinary service, and a renewed commitment to the rule of law, the convention demonstrated that while future summer gatherings may take place elsewhere, the values that have guided the Bar for nearly 95 years—service, professionalism, integrity, and dedication to justice—remain as strong as ever.

*AI was used to write this summary of events.