--- title: "Matthew L. Bell | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/matthew-l-bell-district-court-judge-utah-fifth-district-court-ut" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # Matthew L. Bell Utah Supreme Court · Supreme Court Justice ## Profile - Court: Utah Supreme Court - State: Utah - Role: Supreme Court Justice - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-26 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Before this appointment, Bell held the role of Presiding Judge of Utah’s Fifth District Court since September 2017, when he was appointed by Governor Gary R. Herbert. - Appointed to the Utah Supreme Court on August 28, 2026 by Governor Spencer J. Cox to fill the seat vacated by Justice Diana Hagen - Federal Legal Service: Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Utah - Prior to his appointment, Judge Bell worked as an Assistant United States Attorney in the District of Utah and as a Trial Attorney in the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. ### Education - magna cum laude, J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University; lead note and comment editor for the BYU Law Review — J.D. (2003) ### Additional information - Now one of seven justices on the court, following the Legislature’s recent expansion. - The Fifth District covers Beaver, Iron, and Washington Counties. - Bell’s decade on the Fifth District bench has been marked by broad case experience and high evaluations from attorneys, staff, and jurors. - Law Enforcement: held the role of a sworn peace officer in St. George, Utah, before law school. ## 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/fifth-district-court/matthew-l-bell.html) - [Official roster](https://www.utcourts.gov/en/courts/other-court-info/judges-bios/district-courts/fifth-district-court/matthew-l-bell.html) - [Utah State Courts official judicial roster](https://www.utcourts.gov/en/courts/other-court-info/judges-bios/district-courts/fifth-district-court/matthew-l-bell.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 MATTHEW L. BELL](https://www.utcourts.gov/en/courts/other-court-info/judges-bios/district-courts/fifth-district-court/matthew-l-bell.html) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/matthew-l-bell-district-court-judge-utah-fifth-district-court-ut", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/matthew-l-bell-district-court-judge-utah-fifth-district-court-ut", "name": "Matthew L. Bell | KnowJudges", "description": "Matthew L. Bell, Utah Supreme Court. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-10-07", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/matthew-l-bell-district-court-judge-utah-fifth-district-court-ut#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/matthew-l-bell-district-court-judge-utah-fifth-district-court-ut#judge", "name": "Matthew L. 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Bell", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/matthew-l-bell-district-court-judge-utah-fifth-district-court-ut" } ] } ] } ``` ## Published courtroom rules ### Shared court rules - [UCJA Rule 4-401.01 Electronic media coverage of court proceedings](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-66e618d152d2df53d660e797) — 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=4-401.01). 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.