---
title: "John A. Pearce | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/john-a-pearce-8404"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-07"
---

# John A. Pearce

Utah Court of Appeals · Judge

## Profile

- Court: Utah Court of Appeals
- State: Utah
- Role: Judge
- Service status: former
- Last verified: 2026-06-30

## Summary

Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge.

## Biography

### Professional career

- Judge, Court of Appeals of Utah, 2013-present
- American jurist who held the role of Associate Chief Justice of the Utah Supreme Court from July 2022 until his retirement on December 1, 2025
- Utah Court of Appeals: Judge from 2013 to 2016
- 1999–2009: Shareholder at Jones Waldo Holbrook & McDonough (Salt Lake City)
- Legal Practice: 1996–1999: Attorney at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati (California)
- Pearce stated he will return to private practice and continue teaching at the S.J. Quinney College of Law
- Academic Role: Adjunct professor at the University of Utah’s S.J. Quinney College of Law
- Chief Justice Matthew B. Durrant praised Pearce’s “extraordinary contributions” to Utah’s citizens and judiciary, noting his work to improve representation for indigent parties and enhance measures of lawyer competence

### Education

- University of California, Berkeley, in — J.D. (1996)
- in Economics: University of Utah — B.S. (1992)

### Additional information

- Retirement: Announced June 3, 2025; final day in office December 1, 2025, after 10 years on the court.
- Retention Election: Elected in 2020 with 81.5% of the vote.
- Appointed to Utah Supreme Court: November 9, 2015, by Governor Gary Herbert; confirmed unanimously by the Utah Senate on December 16, 2015; sworn in January 29, 2016.
- General Counsel: held the role of general counsel to Governor Gary Herbert from 2009 to 2013.
- Born June 6, 1969, in Magna, Utah.
- His departure followed a year of heightened tensions between Utah’s legislature and judiciary, and he provided six months’ notice in line with judicial tradition.
- In summary, John A. Pearce was a prominent Utah jurist with a career spanning public service, judicial leadership, and academic work, now transitioning back to private legal practice and teaching.

## 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.courtlistener.com/person/8404/john-a-pearce/)
- [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/8404/john-a-pearce/)
- [Utah Court of Appeals current judicial profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/8404/john-a-pearce/)
- [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)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/8404/john-a-pearce/)
- [John A. Pearce - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/John_A._Pearce)
- [John Pearce - S.J. Quinney College of Law - The University of Utah](https://www.law.utah.edu/faculty-directory/john-pearce)
- [2026 Utah Judicial Council Annual Report](https://www.utcourts.gov/content/dam/court-records-publications/publications/court-publications/court-reports/2026-CourtsAnnualReport.pdf)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/8404/john-a-pearce/)
- [John A. Pearce - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/John_A._Pearce)
- [John Pearce - S.J. Quinney College of Law - The University of Utah](https://www.law.utah.edu/faculty-directory/john-pearce)

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