--- title: "Monica Diaz | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/monica-diaz-associate-presiding-judge-juvenile-court-judge-utah-third-district-juvenile-court-ut" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # Monica Diaz Utah Third District Juvenile Court · Associate Presiding Judge, Juvenile Court Judge ## Profile - Court: Utah Third District Juvenile Court - State: Utah - Role: Associate Presiding Judge, Juvenile 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 summary: Judge Monica R. Diaz is an experienced California attorney with a background in public defense, prosecution, and legal advocacy, now serving as a Fresno County Superior Court judge since 2017 - Chief Deputy District Attorney, leading the Misdemeanor Unit (2015–2017) ### Education - University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law in — J.D. (2008) - Bachelor of Science degree in Social Sciences from Westminster College in 2002 - San Joaquin College of Law — J.D. (1998) - California State University, Fresno — B.A. ### Additional information - Monica R. Diaz has served on the Fresno County Superior Court bench since November 2, 2017, when she was appointed by then-Governor Jerry Brown to fill the vacancy created by the elevation of Kathleen A. Meehan to the Fifth District Court of Appeal. - She has been re-elected in nonpartisan judicial elections, with the 2026 election cycle canceled, allowing her to retain her position without a ballot race. - Appointed to the Third District Juvenile Court in June 2021 by Governor Spencer J. Cox. - From 2020 until her appointment to the bench Judge Diaz was the director of the Utah Sentencing Commission. - California State Bar — admitted December 1998 - focusing on family law and other civil matters. - She also served on the Advisory Committee on Providing Access and Fairness and participated in Fresno County Women Lawyers’ programs on transitioning from practice to the bench. - She presides over cases including family law matters and has also handled other civil and criminal matters within her jurisdiction. - At the time of her appointment, Diaz resided in Visalia, California, and is registered as a Democrat. ## 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/juvenile-courts/third-district-juvenile-court/monica-diaz.html) - [Official roster](https://www.utcourts.gov/en/courts/other-court-info/judges-bios/juvenile-courts/third-district-juvenile-court/monica-diaz.html) - [Utah State Courts official judicial roster](https://www.utcourts.gov/en/courts/other-court-info/judges-bios/juvenile-courts/third-district-juvenile-court/monica-diaz.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) - [ASSOCIATE PRESIDING JUDGE MONICA DIAZ](https://www.utcourts.gov/en/courts/other-court-info/judges-bios/juvenile-courts/third-district-juvenile-court/monica-diaz.html) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/monica-diaz-associate-presiding-judge-juvenile-court-judge-utah-third-district-juvenile-court-ut", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/monica-diaz-associate-presiding-judge-juvenile-court-judge-utah-third-district-juvenile-court-ut", "name": "Monica Diaz | KnowJudges", "description": "Monica Diaz, Utah Third District Juvenile 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.