--- title: "Amber M. Mettler | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/amber-m-mettler-district-court-judge-utah-third-district-court-ut" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # Amber M. Mettler Utah Third District Court · District Court Judge ## Profile - Court: Utah Third District Court - State: Utah - Role: District Court Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-26 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## 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. ## Before you appear - Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed. - Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance. - Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding. ## Courtroom Rules ### electronic media coverage Scope: statewide Utah permits electronic media coverage of public proceedings under statewide UCJA procedures, including proceedings conducted by remote transmission. Evidence excerpt: 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](https://legacy.utcourts.gov/rules/view.php?type=ucja&rule=4-401.01) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### media request process Scope: statewide Utah requires requests for electronic media coverage to be made through the court's public information office. Evidence excerpt: 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](https://legacy.utcourts.gov/rules/view.php?type=ucja&rule=4-401.01) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### portable electronic devices Scope: 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. Evidence excerpt: 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](https://legacy.utcourts.gov/rules/view.php?type=ucja&rule=4-401.02) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### recording photography transmission Scope: 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. Evidence excerpt: 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](https://legacy.utcourts.gov/rules/view.php?type=ucja&rule=4-401.02) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://www.utcourts.gov/en/courts/other-court-info/judges-bios/district-courts/third-district-court/amber-m-mettler.html) - [Official roster](https://www.utcourts.gov/en/courts/other-court-info/judges-bios/district-courts/third-district-court/amber-m-mettler.html) - [Utah State Courts official judicial roster](https://www.utcourts.gov/en/courts/other-court-info/judges-bios/district-courts/third-district-court/amber-m-mettler.html) - [UCJA Rule 4-401.01 Electronic media coverage of court proceedings](https://legacy.utcourts.gov/rules/view.php?type=ucja&rule=4-401.01) - [UCJA Rule 4-401.02 Possession and use of portable electronic devices](https://legacy.utcourts.gov/rules/view.php?type=ucja&rule=4-401.02) - [JUDGE AMBER M. METTLER - Judicial Council](https://www.utcourts.gov/en/courts/other-court-info/judges-bios/judicial-council/amber-m-mettler.html) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/amber-m-mettler-district-court-judge-utah-third-district-court-ut", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/amber-m-mettler-district-court-judge-utah-third-district-court-ut", "name": "Amber M. Mettler | KnowJudges", "description": "Amber M. Mettler, Utah Third District Court. 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This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory. [Official source](https://legacy.utcourts.gov/rules/view.php?type=ucja&rule=4-401.02). Collected 2026-07-26.