--- title: "James T. Blanch | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/james-t-blanch-district-court-judge-utah-third-district-court-ut" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # James T. Blanch 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 - 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. ## 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-t-blanch.html) - [Official roster](https://www.utcourts.gov/en/courts/other-court-info/judges-bios/district-courts/third-district-court/james-t-blanch.html) - [Utah State Courts official judicial roster](https://www.utcourts.gov/en/courts/other-court-info/judges-bios/district-courts/third-district-court/james-t-blanch.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 T. BLANCH](https://www.utcourts.gov/en/courts/other-court-info/judges-bios/district-courts/third-district-court/james-t-blanch.html) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/james-t-blanch-district-court-judge-utah-third-district-court-ut", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/james-t-blanch-district-court-judge-utah-third-district-court-ut", "name": "James T. Blanch | KnowJudges", "description": "James T. Blanch, 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-t-blanch-district-court-judge-utah-third-district-court-ut#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/james-t-blanch-district-court-judge-utah-third-district-court-ut#judge", "name": "James T. 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Blanch", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/james-t-blanch-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.