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# David J. Williams

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 2018 to the Second District Court, serving Davis, Morgan, and Weber counties, with additional responsibilities in mental health court and judicial board service
- held the role of law clerk to Chief Judge Dee V. Benson at the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah

### Education

- magna cum laude — J. Reuben Clark Law School — J.D. (2001)
- magna cum laude — Brigham Young University — B.A. (1998)

### Additional information

- Appointed to the Second District Court in October 2018 by Utah Governor Gary Herbert.
- Worked briefly at Kirton & McConkie in Salt Lake City
- Co‐chaired the Utah State Bar Modest Means Committee for a time
- Judge Williams’ work includes handling a range of civil and criminal matters within his jurisdiction, as well as specialized programs like the Mental Health Court.
- He presides over cases in Davis, Morgan, and Weber counties and currently co‐chairs the Davis County Mental Health Court as part of his judicial duties.
- Joined Stoel Rives LLP, where he practiced in the litigation section
- He is also a board member of the Utah Board of District Court Judges.
- held the role of firm‐wide Pro Bono Coordinator, member of the Third District’s Pro Bono Committee, and board member/vice‐president of the Rocky Mountain Innocence Center

## 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/david-j-williams.html)
- [Official roster](https://www.utcourts.gov/en/courts/other-court-info/judges-bios/district-courts/second-district-court/david-j-williams.html)
- [Utah State Courts official judicial roster](https://www.utcourts.gov/en/courts/other-court-info/judges-bios/district-courts/second-district-court/david-j-williams.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 DAVID J. WILLIAMS - Second District Court](https://www.utcourts.gov/en/courts/other-court-info/judges-bios/district-courts/second-district-court/david-j-williams.html)

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## 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.
