Judges Are Carefully Selected
Judges in Utah are chosen through a nationally recognized, merit-based process.
Governor and the Utah Senate Select Judges
Judges are selected through a merit-based process. Candidates are carefully screened for qualifications, experience and temperament, then nominated by the governor from a vetted list and confirmed by the Senate.
Utah’s judicial system includes various courts and judges and ongoing evaluations of judicial performance.
Utah judges are regularly evaluated by the independent Utah Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission (JPEC) on objective criteria, including fairness, integrity and legal ability.
These evaluations are publicly available and are the most reliable resource for voters in retention elections.
What is JPEC?
The Utah Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission (JPEC) is 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.
What JPEC Does
- Evaluates judges regularly using surveys, courtroom observations, and other data
- Measures performance based on fairness, legal ability, integrity, communication and temperament
- Shares results publicly so voters can make informed decisions
Why JPEC Exists
Most people don’t see judges in action. JPEC helps by:
- Providing objective information about judges
- Making the process transparent and easy to understand
- Helping voters feel confident when voting in retention elections
What JPEC Does NOT Do
- JPEC does not decide cases
- JPEC does not tell judges how to rule
- JPEC does not evaluate whether a specific decision was “right” or “wrong”
Instead, it focuses on how judges perform overall, not individual outcomes.
How This Helps Voters
When judges appear on your ballot:
- You are not expected to know their cases
- You can review JPEC’s evaluations instead
- These evaluations are the best source of neutral, factual information about a judge’s performance
What Else You Should Know
Judges are required to apply the law as written. This means:
- Decisions may not always be popular
- Rulings are based on legal standards, not public opinion
Disagreement with a decision does not mean a judge has failed.
Judges are held accountable through:
- Public performance evaluations (JPEC)
- Ethical oversight by the Judicial Conduct Commission
- Appeals to higher courts and the Legislature’s ability to change a law after a court ruling
Before voting in a judicial retention election:
- Review the judge’s JPEC evaluation
- Consider overall performance (not a single case.)
- Make an informed decision based on objective criteria