James T. Blanch at a glance
- Current role
- District Court Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Utah · State
- Judicial service
- Active
James T. Blanch
District Court Judge · Utah Third District Court
Biography
Professional career
- In summary: Judge James T. Blanch is a highly educated Utah judge with a background in civil litigation and legal academia, serving on the Third District Court since 2012 and continuing in his role through at least 2028
- Judge of the Utah Third District Court, serving Salt Lake, Summit, and Tooele counties since his 2012 appointment by Governor Gary Herbert
- Pre-judicial career: Partner at Salt Lake City firm Parsons Behle & Latimer, practicing broad civil litigation (trial and appellate) from 1993 until appointment
- Academic role: Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law
Education
- He graduated cum laude with a juris doctorate degree from Harvard Law School in 1993.
- Bachelor's degree with high distinction from the University of Virginia in 1990, graduating Phi Beta Kappa.
- University of Virginia, Phi Beta Kappa, with high distinction — B.A. (1990)
Additional information
- Current status: Retained in the November 8, 2016 judicial retention election with 75.27% of the vote
- Appointed to the Third District Court in August 2012 by Governor Gary Herbert.
- Appointed: August 2012 by Governor Gary Herbert; confirmed by the Utah Senate
- Judge Blanch presides over cases in Salt Lake, Summit, and Tooele counties.
- Official Utah Courts bio: – Judge James T. Blanch
- Public review platform: LegalReportCard lists Judge Blanch’s case history and public feedback
- He has worked as an Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Utah's S.J. Quinney College of Law and is a past president of both the Salt Lake County Bar Association and the David K. Watkiss-Sutherland II American Inn of Court.
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 Third 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 Third 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 ↗