--- title: "Michele M. Christiansen Forster | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/michele-m-christiansen-forster-court-of-appeals-judge-utah-court-of-appeals-ut" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # Michele M. Christiansen Forster Utah Court of Appeals · Court of Appeals Judge ## Profile - Court: Utah Court of Appeals - State: Utah - Role: Court of Appeals Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-26 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Judge, Court of Appeals of Utah, 2010-present - American judge serving on the Utah Court of Appeals since June 2010 - Previous judicial role: Third District Court Judge (May 2007 – June 2010) - Executive Director, Utah Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice (2005–2006) - Early career: Judicial law clerk to Hon. Tena Campbell, U.S. District Court for the District of Utah (1995) Associate at Salt Lake City law firm Parsons Behle & Latimer (1995–1998) Assistant U.S. Attorney, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah (1998–2005) — handled cases including child exploitation, child pornography, and violent crimes - In March 1998, Judge Christiansen Forster joined the United States Attorney's Office, District of Utah, as an Assistant United States Attorney - She then served as a judicial law clerk for one year with the Honorable Tena Campbell, United States District Court Judge for the District of Utah, following which she joined the Salt Lake law firm of Parsons Behle & Latimer - Adjunct professor, University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law ### Education - BA in History, Lawrence University (Dean’s List) JD, University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law (1995) ### Additional information - Appointed to the Utah Court of Appeals in June 2010 by Gov - General Counsel to Governor Jon M. Huntsman Jr. (2006–2008) - Past president, David K. Watkiss-Sutherland II Inn of Court - She served as a member of the Guardian Ad Litem Oversight Panel, the Utah Sentencing Commission Executive Committee, the Utah Substance Abuse and Anti-Violence Coordinating Council, the Governor's Violence Against Women and Families Cabinet Council, the Initiative on Utah Children in Foster Care, and the Access to Justice Council - Active in Women Lawyers of Utah, Salt Lake County Bar Association, and the Judicial Council’s Ethics Advisory and Commissioner Conduct Committees - Gary Herbert - Co-chair, Utah State Bar’s Pro Bono Commission ## 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 ### 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/appellate-courts/court-of-appeals/christiansen-forster.html) - [Official roster](https://www.utcourts.gov/en/courts/other-court-info/judges-bios/appellate-courts/court-of-appeals/christiansen-forster.html) - [Utah State Courts official judicial roster](https://www.utcourts.gov/en/courts/other-court-info/judges-bios/appellate-courts/court-of-appeals/christiansen-forster.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) - [MICHELE M. CHRISTIANSEN FORSTER](https://www.utcourts.gov/en/courts/other-court-info/judges-bios/appellate-courts/court-of-appeals/christiansen-forster.html) - [Utah Court of Appeals Judges](https://www.utcourts.gov/en/courts/other-court-info/judges-bios/appellate-courts/court-of-appeals.html) - [Utah Court of Appeals current judicial profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/8399/michele-m-christiansen/) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/8399/michele-m-christiansen/) - [MICHELE M. CHRISTIANSEN FORSTER](https://www.utcourts.gov/en/courts/other-court-info/judges-bios/appellate-courts/court-of-appeals/christiansen-forster.html) - [Michele Christiansen - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Michele_Christiansen) - [MICHELE M. CHRISTIANSEN FORSTER](https://www.utcourts.gov/en/courts/other-court-info/judges-bios/appellate-courts/court-of-appeals/christiansen-forster.html) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/michele-m-christiansen-forster-court-of-appeals-judge-utah-court-of-appeals-ut", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/michele-m-christiansen-forster-court-of-appeals-judge-utah-court-of-appeals-ut", "name": "Michele M. Christiansen Forster | KnowJudges", "description": "Michele M. Christiansen Forster, Utah Court of Appeals. 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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=4-401.02). Collected 2026-07-26.