--- title: "Michael D. Direda | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/michael-d-direda-district-court-judge-utah-second-district-court-ut" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # Michael D. Direda Utah Second District Court · District Court Judge ## Profile - Court: Utah Second 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 - Utah Second District Court (Ogden District Court) and has held leadership roles, including Associate Presiding and Presiding Judge from 2019 to 2022. - Judge of the Utah Second District Court, appointed in December 2008 by Governor Jon M. Huntsman, Jr., and recognized for his legal expertise, prosecutorial background, and judicial leadership. - Deputy County Attorney: Davis County Attorney’s Office (1995–2008) - Judicial law clerk in the Second District Court from 1994-1995 before joining the Davis County Attorney’s Office as a Deputy County Attorney. - Sudreau Global Justice Institute judicial adviser to judiciaries in Uganda, Kenya, and Rwanda ### Education - Pepperdine University Caruso School of Law — J.D. (1993) - Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology in 1990 from Pepperdine University ### Additional information - 2012 Retention Election: Retained with 80.7% of the vote; received unanimous recommendation from the Utah Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission - Special Assistant U.S. Attorney: 2001–2007, prosecuting cases under Project Safe Neighborhoods - Special Assistant United States Attorney from 2001-2007 where he prosecuted cases brought under Project Safe Neighborhoods. - Other Roles: Prosecutor for Centerville City and Clinton City - Prosecutorial Experience: Handled serious felony and high-profile homicide cases; held the role of Section Chief for all criminal litigation and narcotics cases - He is also a member of the Utah Judicial Council and an Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of Utah, teaching trial advocacy. - Professional Affiliations: National Association of Drug Court Professionals - Editorial Board Member, Utah Journal of Criminal Law ## 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/second-district-court/michael-d-direda.html) - [Official roster](https://www.utcourts.gov/en/courts/other-court-info/judges-bios/district-courts/second-district-court/michael-d-direda.html) - [Utah State Courts official judicial roster](https://www.utcourts.gov/en/courts/other-court-info/judges-bios/district-courts/second-district-court/michael-d-direda.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 MICHAEL D. DIREDA](https://www.utcourts.gov/en/courts/other-court-info/judges-bios/district-courts/second-district-court/michael-d-direda.html) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/michael-d-direda-district-court-judge-utah-second-district-court-ut", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/michael-d-direda-district-court-judge-utah-second-district-court-ut", "name": "Michael D. Direda | KnowJudges", "description": "Michael D. Direda, Utah Second District Court. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-08-02", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/michael-d-direda-district-court-judge-utah-second-district-court-ut#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/michael-d-direda-district-court-judge-utah-second-district-court-ut#judge", "name": "Michael D. Direda", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/michael-d-direda-district-court-judge-utah-second-district-court-ut", "jobTitle": "District Court Judge", "worksFor": { "@type": "GovernmentOrganization", "name": "Utah Second District Court" }, "sameAs": [ "https://www.utcourts.gov/en/courts/other-court-info/judges-bios/district-courts/second-district-court/michael-d-direda.html" ], "alumniOf": [] }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "KnowJudges", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Utah", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/state/utah" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Michael D. Direda", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/michael-d-direda-district-court-judge-utah-second-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.