--- title: "Cristina P. Ortega | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/cristina-p-ortega-district-court-judge-utah-second-district-court-ut" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # Cristina P. Ortega Utah Second District Court · District Court Judge ## Profile - Court: Utah Second 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 State Court judge appointed in 2021 to the Second District Court, serving Davis, Morgan, and Weber Counties - Assistant U.S. Attorney, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah (2018–2021) — Project Safe Childhood Coordinator - Prior to being appointed to the bench, Judge Ortega served as an Assistant United States Attorney at the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Utah from 2018 to 2021. - Judge Ortega then served as a Deputy County Attorney at the Davis County Attorney's Office from 2010 to 2018 where she continued in the specialized prosecution of special victim cases involving sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse investigations. - Deputy District Attorney, Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office (2002–2010) — prosecuted narcotics, general felonies, and special victim cases including homicides. - After graduation, Judge Ortega served as a Deputy District Attorney at the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office from 2002 to 2010 in the Criminal Division where she prosecuted narcotic offenses, general felony offenses, and special victim offenses, including homicides. - Served a one-year detail as Counsel to the U.S. Attorney for the District of Utah - During her time at the U.S. Attorney's Office, Judge Ortega served as the Project Safe Childhood Coordinator focused on the federal prosecution of child exploitation offenses - Judge Ortega has been active in higher education leadership, serving on the Board of Trustees for the University of Utah and as a Regent for the Utah System of Higher Education ### Education - S.J. Quinney College of Law at the University of Utah — J.D. (2002) - B.A. in Criminal Justice (magna cum laude) with minors in Latin American Studies and Legal Studies, Weber State University. - Judge Ortega graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice with an emphasis in Law Enforcement and a dual minor in Latin American Studies and Legal Studies from Weber State University. ### Additional information - Appointed to the Second District Court in February of 2021 by Governor Spencer J. Cox. - Appointed by Governor Spencer J. Cox in February 2021 and took the bench in March 2021. - focusing on federal prosecution of child exploitation offenses. - Official bio: Utah State Courts — Judge Cristina P. Ortega. - She presides over cases in Davis, Morgan, and Weber Counties as part of the Utah Second District Court. - She is also recognized for her advocacy in diversity and inclusion, as noted in her WSU “Women of Weber” profile. - Born in El Paso, Texas, and raised in Ogden, Utah, Ortega is a first-generation college student who became involved in numerous campus activities, including the WSU Student Association Latino/Chicano/Hispanic Senate. - She has emphasized the value of diverse perspectives in legal work and the importance of hard work and preparation. ## 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/second-district-court/cristina-p-ortega.html) - [Official roster](https://www.utcourts.gov/en/courts/other-court-info/judges-bios/district-courts/second-district-court/cristina-p-ortega.html) - [Utah State Courts official judicial roster](https://www.utcourts.gov/en/courts/other-court-info/judges-bios/district-courts/second-district-court/cristina-p-ortega.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 CRISTINA P. ORTEGA](https://www.utcourts.gov/en/courts/other-court-info/judges-bios/district-courts/second-district-court/cristina-p-ortega.html) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/cristina-p-ortega-district-court-judge-utah-second-district-court-ut", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/cristina-p-ortega-district-court-judge-utah-second-district-court-ut", "name": "Cristina P. Ortega | KnowJudges", "description": "Cristina P. Ortega, Utah Second District Court. 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Ortega", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/cristina-p-ortega-district-court-judge-utah-second-district-court-ut" } ] } ] } ``` ## Published courtroom rules ### Shared court rules - [UCJA Rule 4-401.01 Electronic media coverage of court proceedings](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-66e618d152d2df53d660e797) — 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](https://legacy.utcourts.gov/rules/view.php?type=ucja&rule=4-401.01). Collected 2026-07-26. - [UCJA Rule 4-401.02 Possession and use of portable electronic devices](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-5b4e5d61b330f356e2af7caf) — 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](https://legacy.utcourts.gov/rules/view.php?type=ucja&rule=4-401.02). Collected 2026-07-26.