PRESS RELEASE

SALT LAKE CITY – The Third District Judicial Nominating Commission has selected nominees for two vacancies on the Third District Court. These positions result from the retirement of Judge Barry G. Lawrence, May 16, 2026, and the appointment of Judge John Nielsen to the Utah Supreme Court, Nov. 19, 2025. 

The nominees for the vacancies are:

• Elizabeth Butler, Shareholder, Parsons Behle & Latimer;
• Deborah Chandler, Partner/President, Anderson & Karrenberg;
• Patricia Kuendig, Attorney/Owner, Dodd & Kuendig;
• Jeffrey Mann, Assistant Solicitor General, Utah Attorney General’s Office;
• Todd Olsen, Commissioner, Third District Court;
• Lance Talakai, Team Leader, Salt Lake Legal Defender Association.

Written comments can be submitted to the Third District Judicial Nominating Commission at judicialvacancies@utah.gov or Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice, P.O. Box 142330, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-2330. The deadline for written comments is noon, April 5, 2026. The Nominating Commission may request further information or investigate the nominees after reviewing public comments. After the public comment period, the names will be sent to Gov. Spencer J. Cox, who will have 30 days to make an appointment. Gov. Cox’s appointee is subject to confirmation by the Utah Senate.

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ROBERT CARROLL | Senior Advisor to Gov. Cox OFFICE OF GOV. SPENCER J. COX STATE OF UTAH 801-243-2290