--- title: "Kara L. Pettit | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/kara-l-pettit-associate-presiding-judge-district-court-judge-utah-third-district-court-ut" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # Kara L. Pettit Utah Third District Court · Associate Presiding Judge, District Court Judge ## Profile - Court: Utah Third District Court - State: Utah - Role: Associate Presiding Judge, 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 - 1999–2014: Attorney at Snow, Christensen & Martineau - From 1995-1999, she was a deputy prosecuting attorney for the Ada County Prosecuting Attorney's Office in Boise, Idaho, serving in various capacities, including the misdemeanor, juvenile, child protection, and felony divisions. - The Associate Presiding Judge of Utah’s Third District Court, serving full-time in Salt Lake County and overseeing cases in Salt Lake, Summit, and Tooele counties - Earlier in her career, she also held the role of a law clerk for the Utah Attorney General’s Office ### Education - Law degree from the University of Utah's College of Law in 1995. - Judge Pettit graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting from the University of Northern Iowa, magna cum laude, in 1988. ### Additional information - Appointed to the Third District Court in September 2014 by Governor Gary R. Herbert. - Appointed by Governor Gary R. Herbert on September 15, 2014 to fill the vacancy created by Judge Terry L. Christiansen’s retirement, Pettit was confirmed by the Utah State Senate on October 15, 2014. - In December 1999, she joined the law firm of Snow, Christensen & Martineau, where she practiced civil litigation until being appointed to the bench in 2014. - handling civil litigation at trial and appellate levels in state and federal courts. - Prior to her appointment on the bench, Judge Pettit volunteered with several organizations or projects over the years, including the Ada County Human Rights Task Force, pro bono Guardian Ad Litem program, pro bono Legal Clinic at Guadelupe School, and The Road Home Development Committee. - She also contributes to the Bar’s subcommittee that develops the landlord/tenant portion of the licensed paralegal practitioner exam. - She serves as Associate Presiding Judge and is a member of the Utah Judicial Council, the Grand Jury Panel, and the Utah Bar’s New Lawyer Training Program Committee. - Before her judicial appointment, Pettit volunteered with the Ada County Human Rights Task Force, pro bono Guardian Ad Litem programs, the Legal Clinic at Guadelupe School, and The Road Home Development Committee. - She has also served on the Utah Bar’s examiner committee. ## 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/kara-l-pettit.html) - [Official roster](https://www.utcourts.gov/en/courts/other-court-info/judges-bios/district-courts/third-district-court/kara-l-pettit.html) - [Utah State Courts official judicial roster](https://www.utcourts.gov/en/courts/other-court-info/judges-bios/district-courts/third-district-court/kara-l-pettit.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) - [ASSOCIATE PRESIDING JUDGE KARA L. PETTIT](https://www.utcourts.gov/en/courts/other-court-info/judges-bios/district-courts/third-district-court/kara-l-pettit.html) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/kara-l-pettit-associate-presiding-judge-district-court-judge-utah-third-district-court-ut", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/kara-l-pettit-associate-presiding-judge-district-court-judge-utah-third-district-court-ut", "name": "Kara L. Pettit | KnowJudges", "description": "Kara L. Pettit, Utah Third District Court. 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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.