Kraig Powell at a glance
- Current role
- District Court Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Utah · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Kraig Powell
District Court Judge · Utah Fourth District Court
Biography
Professional career
- He has also been the judge of the Veterans Treatment Court in Utah County since 2017
- During 2024 and 2025, Judge Powell was Presiding Judge of the Fourth District Court
- Utah state court judge appointed in 2016 to the Fourth District Court, serving Juab, Millard, Utah, and Wasatch counties, and also acting as a statewide Water Law Judge
- Law clerk at the Texas Court of Appeals and the Illinois Supreme Court
- held a position as a briefing attorney for the Texas Court of Appeals
- In summary: Judge Kraig Powell is a seasoned Utah jurist with a background in law, politics, and community service, currently serving as a key judge in the Fourth District Court and as the state’s Water Law Judge
Education
- University of Virginia School of Law — J.D. (1995)
- M.A., J.D., and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Virginia.
Additional information
- In June 2026, Judge Powell was involved in a high-profile wrongful death case — ordering $60 million in damages in a civil trial against drunk driver Kesley Pope for the October 31, 2021, I‐15 crash that killed mother Season Dow and her son Toby.
- Appointed by Utah Governor Gary Herbert in December 2016 to the Fourth District Court.
- Practiced law in Wasatch and Summit counties, including as city attorney for Midway and Francis, Utah
- Powell has been past president of the Heber Valley Rotary Club and past chair of the Wasatch Community Foundation.
- Prior to his judicial appointment, he practiced law in Wasatch and Summit counties, where he was city attorney for both Midway and Francis.
- He presides over cases in Juab, Millard, Utah, and Wasatch counties, and serves as the statewide Water Law Judge.
- He has taught political science at Utah Valley University and served on the Utah Judicial Conduct Commission.
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 Fourth District 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 Fourth District 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 July 26, 2026.
Biography sources checked October 11, 2026.
Utah State Courts official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 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 ↗