Jay T. Jorgensen at a glance
- Current role
- Justice
- Court
- Utah Supreme Court
- Jurisdiction
- Utah · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Jay T. Jorgensen
Justice · Utah Supreme Court
Biography
Professional career
- American judge appointed in June 2026 to the Utah Supreme Court by Governor Spencer J. Cox, bringing a distinguished legal career in corporate law, public service, and judicial clerkship
- His formal investiture ceremony took place on September 21, 2026, at the Scott M. Matheson Courthouse in Salt Lake City, where U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. administered the oath
- At the time, he served as senior counsel in the Office of General Counsel for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- Justice Alito praised his “exceptional legal mind” and “deep sense of humanity”
- Earlier in his career, he was a partner at Sidley Austin LLP and clerked for Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist on the United States Supreme Court and then-Judge Samuel A. Alito Jr. on the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
- In summary: Justice Jay T. Jorgensen is a highly experienced legal professional now serving on Utah’s highest court, with a background in corporate law, compliance, and high-level judicial clerkships, and a strong public commitment to serving Utah’s legal community
- He also clerked for Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist on the U.S. Supreme Court and Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
Education
- Jorgensen graduated summa cum laude from Brigham Young University’s J. Reuben Clark Law School.
Additional information
- Appointed to the Utah Supreme Court on June 17, 2026, following the creation of new seats during that year’s legislative session.
- Born in Utah, Jorgensen has lived in Arkansas, Washington, D.C., and South Korea before returning to Utah in 2020.
- I pledge to faithfully apply our state’s constitution and laws, and to serve to the best of my ability”.
- He previously served as general counsel, chief compliance officer and corporate secretary for Coupang, and as executive vice president and global chief ethics and compliance officer for Walmart.
- He was confirmed by the Utah Senate in a 22–7 vote.
- He and his wife, Melissa, reside in North Salt Lake.
- In Senate confirmation hearings, he addressed questions about Utah’s constitutional residency requirement, explaining that his three-year LDS mission in Chile did not end his Utah residency.
- He stated he does not anticipate needing to recuse himself from church-related cases, as he is not assigned to Utah church work.
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 Supreme 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 Supreme 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 August 22, 2026.
Biography sources checked October 11, 2026.
Utah State Courts official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked August 22, 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 ↗