--- title: "James D. Gardner | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/james-d-gardner-district-court-judge-utah-third-district-court-ut" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # James D. Gardner 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 - Judge of the Utah Third District Court, appointed in December 2014 by Governor Gary Herbert to serve Salt Lake, Summit, and Tooele counties - Before joining the judiciary, Gardner was a partner at Snell & Wilmer LLP in Salt Lake City, where he maintained a broad civil litigation practice in state and federal courts at both trial and appellate levels. ### Education - (cum laude): Duke University School of Law — J.D. (2000) - (magna cum laude): Brigham Young University — B.A. (1997) ### Additional information - Confirmed: January 14, 2015, by the Utah State Senate. - Mountain States Super Lawyer for Business Litigation (2014) - Appointed to the Third District Court in December 2014 by Gov. - Appointed: December 15, 2014, by Governor Gary Herbert to fill the vacancy created by Judge Denise Lindberg’s retirement. - Judge Gardner presides over cases in the Utah Third District Court, covering Salt Lake, Summit, and Tooele counties. - His legal work included commercial litigation, professional malpractice defense, financial services litigation, constitutional litigation, and appellate advocacy. - He was admitted to practice before the Fourth, Sixth, Tenth, and Federal Circuits, the U.S. Supreme Court, and all Utah state and federal courts. - He is also a member of the Utah Judicial Council and serves on the Utah State Bar’s New Lawyer Training Program Committee and CLE Advisory Committee. ## 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/james-d-gardner.html) - [Official roster](https://www.utcourts.gov/en/courts/other-court-info/judges-bios/district-courts/third-district-court/james-d-gardner.html) - [Utah State Courts official judicial roster](https://www.utcourts.gov/en/courts/other-court-info/judges-bios/district-courts/third-district-court/james-d-gardner.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 JAMES D. GARDNER](https://www.utcourts.gov/en/courts/other-court-info/judges-bios/judicial-council/james-d-gardner.html) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/james-d-gardner-district-court-judge-utah-third-district-court-ut", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/james-d-gardner-district-court-judge-utah-third-district-court-ut", "name": "James D. Gardner | KnowJudges", "description": "James D. Gardner, Utah Third District Court. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-08-02", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/james-d-gardner-district-court-judge-utah-third-district-court-ut#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/james-d-gardner-district-court-judge-utah-third-district-court-ut#judge", "name": "James D. 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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.