Laura Scott at a glance
- Current role
- District Court Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Utah · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Laura Scott
District Court Judge · Utah Third District Court
Biography
Professional career
- In April 2025, Judge Scott ruled that the Utah Fits All Scholarship Program — which provides up to $8,000 annually for private school tuition — was unconstitutional under the Utah Constitution
Education
- B.A. from the University of Utah and a J.D. from Arizona State University’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law.
Additional information
- She has received the Utah State Bar’s Professionalism Award, the James B. Lee Mentoring Award, and the 2022 Judge of the Year Award.
- Appointed to the Third District Court by Governor Gary Herbert on October 14, 2014, confirmed by the Utah Senate on November 6, 2014.
- Before joining the bench, she was a shareholder at Parsons Behle & Latimer, practicing commercial and real estate litigation.
- Multiple judicial and bar association committees, including as a past president of the Salt Lake County Bar Association.
- She handles a civil calendar and serves as a water judge, and is also on the Utah Supreme Court’s Ethics Advisory Committee and OPC Oversight Committee.
- shareholder, Parsons Behle & Latimer, where she practiced commercial and real estate litigation; until before joining bench
- The Utah Education Association and other plaintiffs argued it diverted income tax funds meant for public education.
- Scott found the program violated constitutional provisions requiring the state to fund a free public education system and to use income tax for public schools and support for children and people with disabilities.
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 Third 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 Third 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 ↗