F. Richards Smith III at a glance
- Current role
- Juvenile Court Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Utah · State
- Judicial service
- Active
F. Richards Smith III
Juvenile Court Judge · Utah Fourth District Juvenile Court
Biography
Professional career
- Appointed juvenile court judge for Utah’s Fourth District, serving since November 2012, with a background in child welfare law and legal advocacy
- He later became Director of the Utah Office of Guardian ad Litem and Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)
Education
- in Psychology — University of Utah — B.A.
Additional information
- Judge Smith presides over cases in the Fourth District Juvenile Court in Utah, a role he has held since his appointment by Governor Gary R. Herbert on November 7, 2012.
- Judge Smith was retained in the 2016 Utah judicial retention election with 83.06% of the vote.
- Child Advocate of the Year — Utah County Abuse Council, 2004
- Board certified as a Child Welfare Law Specialist (CWLS) by the National Association of Counsel for Children.
- He also conducts two specialty courts in Utah County: Juvenile Recovery Court and Juvenile Behavioral Health Court.
- J.D. — J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University Before joining the bench, Smith worked in civil litigation, held the role of in-house general counsel, and as a Guardian ad Litem Attorney.
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 Juvenile 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 Juvenile 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 ↗