--- title: "Michael S. Edwards | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/michael-s-edwards-district-court-judge-utah-second-district-court-ut" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # Michael S. Edwards 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 - Career before the bench: Judicial clerkship at the Second District Court (1999–2000) Deputy Davis County Attorney (2000–2002) Associate at Helgesen, Waterfall & Jones, P.C. (2002–2004) Shareholder at Diumenti & Edwards, Inc. (2004–2012) Private practice as Michael S. Edwards, Attorney at Law, PLLC (2012–2018) Military law service in the Utah Army National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve - Judge Edwards is grateful for the opportunity to serve as a judge, and really enjoys serving the people of Davis County ### Education - J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University — J.D. (1999) - in Sociology, Brigham Young University — B.S. (1996) ### Additional information - Appointed to the Second District Court in September of 2018 by Gov - Appointed by Governor Gary R. Herbert in September 2018, Judge Edwards serves in the Second District Court, which has jurisdiction over general civil, criminal, family, and probate matters - Collaborative case scheduling and resolution of discovery disputes through counsel first, with hearings (often virtual) if needed - Utah State Court judge for the Second District Court, serving Davis, Morgan, and Weber counties, with assignments in Farmington, and presiding over criminal, family, civil, and specialized drug and DUI cases - Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) Program - Practical handling of extraordinary discovery requests to balance fairness and efficiency - Reluctance to impose sanctions unless necessary, assuming attorneys act in good faith - His caseload includes criminal defense, family law, civil litigation, and probate cases - In his appointment announcement, Edwards expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve and committed to upholding the rule of law and treating each person with respect ## 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-s-edwards.html) - [Official roster](https://www.utcourts.gov/en/courts/other-court-info/judges-bios/district-courts/second-district-court/michael-s-edwards.html) - [Utah State Courts official judicial roster](https://www.utcourts.gov/en/courts/other-court-info/judges-bios/district-courts/second-district-court/michael-s-edwards.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 S. EDWARDS](https://www.utcourts.gov/en/courts/other-court-info/judges-bios/district-courts/second-district-court/michael-s-edwards.html) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/michael-s-edwards-district-court-judge-utah-second-district-court-ut", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/michael-s-edwards-district-court-judge-utah-second-district-court-ut", "name": "Michael S. Edwards | KnowJudges", "description": "Michael S. Edwards, Utah Second District Court. 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Edwards", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/michael-s-edwards-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.