Amber M. Mettler at a glance
- Current role
- District Court Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Utah · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Amber M. Mettler
District Court Judge · Utah Third District Court
Biography
Professional career
- Utah Third District Court judge appointed in 2017, serving Salt Lake, Summit, and Tooele counties, with a background in civil and appellate litigation and a Princeton and University of Pennsylvania legal education
Education
- magna cum laude, University of Pennsylvania Law School — J.D. (2004)
- in Politics, magna cum laude, Princeton University — B.A. (1999)
Additional information
- She held that a 2024 Utah statute shielding NIL agreements from the state’s open records law applies retroactively, even to agreements created before the law’s effective date.
- In September 2024, Judge Mettler ruled in a NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) contracts case, siding with five Utah public universities against a State Records Committee decision requiring public disclosure of such contracts.
- Appointed to the Third District Court in November 2017 by Utah Governor Gary Herbert, confirmed by the Utah State Senate on November 15, 2017.
- Snell & Wilmer LLP, Salt Lake City — partner before judicial appointment
- The decision drew criticism from the Deseret News, which argued it limited journalists’ ability to access public information under Utah’s GRAMA law.
- She presides over cases in Salt Lake, Summit, and Tooele counties and is based at the Matheson Courthouse in Salt Lake City.
- She also serves as a district court representative on the Utah Judicial Council.
- She is admitted to practice before the Ninth and Tenth Circuits, the U.S. Supreme Court, and all Utah state and federal courts.
- handling civil and appellate litigation in state and federal courts.
- Consultant for Public Financial Management, Inc.
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Electronic Media Coverage
Statewide
Utah permits electronic media coverage of public proceedings under statewide UCJA procedures, including proceedings conducted by remote transmission.
This rule governs electronic media coverage of proceedings that are open to the public, including proceedings conducted by remote transmission.UCJA Rule 4-401.01 Electronic media coverage of court proceedings ↗
Media Request Process
Statewide
Utah requires requests for electronic media coverage to be made through the court's public information office.
All requests to provide electronic media coverage shall be made to the court’s public information office.UCJA Rule 4-401.01 Electronic media coverage of court proceedings ↗
Portable Electronic Devices
Statewide
Utah permits possession and use of portable electronic devices in courthouses unless limited by UCJA Rule 4-401.02 or by directive of the judge.
A person may possess and use a portable electronic device anywhere in a courthouse, except as limited by this rule or directive of the judge.UCJA Rule 4-401.02 Possession and use of portable electronic devices ↗
Recording and broadcasting
Statewide
Utah prohibits recording, photographing, or transmitting images or sound of court proceedings with portable electronic devices unless allowed under the electronic-media rule or another stated exception.
A person may not use a portable electronic device to record, photograph, or transmit images or sound of court proceedings, except in accordance with rule 4-401.01 or subsection (2)(D) above.UCJA Rule 4-401.02 Possession and use of portable electronic devices ↗
Published courtroom rules
Shared court rules
UCJA Rule 4-401.01 Electronic media coverage of court proceedings
Utah Third District Court
Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim. Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-07-26UCJA Rule 4-401.02 Possession and use of portable electronic devices
Utah Third District Court
Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim. Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-07-26Sources
Identity source checked July 26, 2026.
Biography sources checked October 11, 2026.
Utah State Courts official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Utah State Courts official judicial roster ↗UCJA Rule 4-401.01 Electronic media coverage of court proceedings
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View UCJA Rule 4-401.01 Electronic media coverage of court proceedings ↗UCJA Rule 4-401.02 Possession and use of portable electronic devices
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View UCJA Rule 4-401.02 Possession and use of portable electronic devices ↗