--- title: "Derek J. Williams | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/derek-j-williams-district-court-judge-utah-third-district-court-ut" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # Derek J. Williams 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 District Court judge appointed in July 2025 by Governor Spencer J. Cox to serve in the Third District Court, with a background in healthcare law, adoption law, and public service - Partner — Campbell Williams Ference Nelson & Hall (2020–2025) - From 2020 until his appointment to the bench, he was a partner at the Millcreek law firm of Campbell Williams Ference Nelson & Hall - Associate and shareholder at the law firm Snow Christensen & Martineau from 2003 to 2020 - Following law school, Judge Williams completed a clerkship on the Utah Court of Appeals with the Honorable Pamela T. Greenwood from January 2004 to December 2004 - A.A.S. in Criminal Justice and French — Ricks College, 1994 - Earlier legal work included complex litigation and settlements with tobacco companies for the Utah Attorney General’s Office - Practice focused on medical malpractice defense, personal injury defense, and adoption law ### Education - S.J. Quinney College of Law at the University of Utah in where he was the Executive Editor of the Journal of Land, Resources, and Environmental Law — J.D. (2003) - in Political Science (minor in Middle East Area Studies) — University of Utah — B.A. (1997) ### Additional information - Appointed to the Third District Court in Salt Lake County in July 2025 by Governor Spencer J. Cox, taking the bench in September 2025. - Clerkship — Utah Court of Appeals, Hon. Pamela T. Greenwood (2004) - Judge Williams graduated with two associates degrees in criminal justice and French from Rick's College in 1994, and a bachelor's degree from the University of Utah in political science with a minor in middle east area studies in 1997. - Former Fellow of the Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys and Past President of the Utah Adoption Council. - Williams has stated his commitment to applying the law with integrity, fairness, and dedication to strengthening Utah’s judiciary. - Official bio: Utah State Courts — Judge Derek J. Williams. - He also had a very meaningful practice in adoption law, as a result of the adoption of his own two children near the time he became a lawyer. - Judge Williams’ legal career has been shaped by over 20 years in practice, with a strong emphasis on healthcare provider defense and adoption law, a specialty informed by his own experience adopting his two children early in his legal career. - He handles a broad range of cases, including criminal, civil, family law, probate, debt, and collections matters. - Governor Cox praised Williams’ “blend of legal skill, compassion, and dedication to public service” and noted his nationally recognized work in complex adoption law as preparation for the bench. ## 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/judge-derek-j--williams.html) - [Official roster](https://www.utcourts.gov/en/courts/other-court-info/judges-bios/district-courts/third-district-court/judge-derek-j--williams.html) - [Utah State Courts official judicial roster](https://www.utcourts.gov/en/courts/other-court-info/judges-bios/district-courts/third-district-court/judge-derek-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 DEREK J. WILLIAMS](https://www.utcourts.gov/en/courts/other-court-info/judges-bios/district-courts/third-district-court/judge-derek-j--williams.html) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/derek-j-williams-district-court-judge-utah-third-district-court-ut", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/derek-j-williams-district-court-judge-utah-third-district-court-ut", "name": "Derek J. Williams | KnowJudges", "description": "Derek J. Williams, Utah Third District Court. 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Williams", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/derek-j-williams-district-court-judge-utah-third-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.