--- title: "Kraig Powell | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/kraig-powell-district-court-judge-utah-fourth-district-court-ut" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # Kraig Powell Utah Fourth District Court · District Court Judge ## Profile - Court: Utah Fourth District Court - State: Utah - Role: 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 - 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. ## 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/fourth-district-court/kraig-powell.html) - [Official roster](https://www.utcourts.gov/en/courts/other-court-info/judges-bios/district-courts/fourth-district-court/kraig-powell.html) - [Utah State Courts official judicial roster](https://www.utcourts.gov/en/courts/other-court-info/judges-bios/district-courts/fourth-district-court/kraig-powell.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) - [JUDGE KRAIG POWELL](https://www.utcourts.gov/en/courts/other-court-info/judges-bios/district-courts/fourth-district-court/kraig-powell.html) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/kraig-powell-district-court-judge-utah-fourth-district-court-ut", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/kraig-powell-district-court-judge-utah-fourth-district-court-ut", "name": "Kraig Powell | KnowJudges", "description": "Kraig Powell, Utah Fourth 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=4-401.01). 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.