--- title: "Laura Scott | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/laura-scott-district-court-judge-utah-third-district-court-ut" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # Laura Scott Utah Third District Court · District Court Judge ## Profile - Court: Utah Third 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 - 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. ## 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/laura-scott.html) - [Official roster](https://www.utcourts.gov/en/courts/other-court-info/judges-bios/district-courts/third-district-court/laura-scott.html) - [Utah State Courts official judicial roster](https://www.utcourts.gov/en/courts/other-court-info/judges-bios/district-courts/third-district-court/laura-scott.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 LAURA SCOTT](https://www.utcourts.gov/en/courts/other-court-info/judges-bios/district-courts/third-district-court/laura-scott.html) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/laura-scott-district-court-judge-utah-third-district-court-ut", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/laura-scott-district-court-judge-utah-third-district-court-ut", "name": "Laura Scott | KnowJudges", "description": "Laura Scott, 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=4-401.01). 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.