John Nielsen at a glance
- Current role
- Justice
- Court
- Utah Supreme Court
- Jurisdiction
- Utah · State
- Judicial service
- Active
John Nielsen
Justice · Utah Supreme Court
Biography
Professional career
- A lower court judge will replace him for arguments scheduled for October 5, 2026
- Was a partner at Schaerr & Jaffe and a shareholder at Lee Nielsen law firm
- held the role of Assistant Solicitor General in the Utah Attorney General’s Office and as Deputy Utah County Attorney
- He previously was a shareholder in the law firm of Lee Nielsen
- His appointment was praised by Chief Justice Matthew Durrant, who described Nielsen as “a better oral and written advocate” he had never seen in 25 years on the court
- Before his appointment as a Judge, he was a partner at the law firm of Schaerr & Jaffe.
Education
Additional information
- In September 2026, Nielsen voluntarily recused himself from a Planned Parenthood case challenging Utah’s near-total abortion ban, after having filed an amicus brief for Pro-Life Utah in a prior appeal in the same matter.
- Appointed to the Utah Supreme Court in October 2025 by Governor Spencer J. Cox.
- He graduated magna cum laude from the J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University in 2007.
- The court noted that while he still believed in his duty to sit, he concluded that the duty to recuse was stronger in this case.
- Nielsen has participated in legal and judicial events, including panels on judicial conservatism, religious liberty, and the role of citizen initiatives.
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 ↗