--- title: "John Nielsen | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/john-nielsen-justice-utah-supreme-court-ut" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-22" --- # John Nielsen Utah Supreme Court · Justice ## Profile - Court: Utah Supreme Court - State: Utah - Role: Justice - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-08-22 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## 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. ## 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/appellate-courts/supreme-court.html) - [Official roster](https://www.utcourts.gov/en/courts/other-court-info/judges-bios/appellate-courts/supreme-court.html) - [Utah State Courts official judicial roster](https://www.utcourts.gov/en/courts/other-court-info/judges-bios/appellate-courts/supreme-court.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) - [JUSTICE JOHN NIELSEN](https://www.utcourts.gov/en/courts/other-court-info/judges-bios/appellate-courts/supreme-court/john-nielsen.html) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/john-nielsen-justice-utah-supreme-court-ut", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/john-nielsen-justice-utah-supreme-court-ut", "name": "John Nielsen | KnowJudges", "description": "John Nielsen, Utah Supreme Court. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-08-22", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/john-nielsen-justice-utah-supreme-court-ut#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/john-nielsen-justice-utah-supreme-court-ut#judge", "name": "John Nielsen", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/john-nielsen-justice-utah-supreme-court-ut", "jobTitle": "Justice", "worksFor": { "@type": "GovernmentOrganization", "name": "Utah Supreme Court" }, "sameAs": [ "https://www.utcourts.gov/en/courts/other-court-info/judges-bios/appellate-courts/supreme-court.html" ], "alumniOf": [] }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "KnowJudges", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Utah", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/state/utah" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "John Nielsen", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/john-nielsen-justice-utah-supreme-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.