Denise M. Porter at a glance
- Current role
- District Court Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Utah · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Denise M. Porter
District Court Judge · Utah Fourth District Court
Biography
Professional career
- Judge Denise M. Porter combines extensive experience in criminal defense, parole oversight, and judicial service
- Began her legal career clerking for Judge Tyrone Medley and Judge William Thorne in Utah’s Third Judicial District
Education
Additional information
- She assumed office in 2021, with her term ending in 2024.
- Appointed to the Fourth District Court of Utah on December 1, 2020, by Governor Gary R. Herbert, serving Juab, Millard, Utah, and Wasatch counties.
- Appointed to the Fourth District Court in December 2020 by Governor Gary R. Hebert.
- Two bachelor’s degrees, magna cum laude, in Political Science and Psychology from the University of Utah in 1995, followed by a law degree from the University of Utah’s S.J. Quinney College of Law in 1998.
- After her clerkship, Judge Porter spent the next 17 years at Salt Lake Legal Defender Association where she worked as a felony trial attorney.
- Her career highlights include long-term felony trial work, service on state advisory committees, and impactful rulings that affect both legal practice and community interests in Utah.
- She then spent 17 years at the Salt Lake Legal Defender Association as a felony trial attorney, specializing in capital representation and mitigation.
- Prior to her judicial appointment, she served five years on the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole, contributing to decisions on parole and clemency.
- Judge Porter serves on the Utah Supreme Court’s Advisory Committee on the Rules of Criminal Procedure and is a board member for Women Lawyers of Utah, reflecting her ongoing engagement in legal policy and professional development.
- She has also held a position as a legal writing teaching assistant at the University of Utah.
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 Fourth 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 Fourth 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 ↗