--- title: "Ray R. Richards | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/ray-r-richards-justice-court-judge-utah-eighth-district-justice-court-ut" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # Ray R. Richards Utah Eighth District Justice Court · Justice Court Judge ## Profile - Court: Utah Eighth District Justice Court - State: Utah - Role: Justice 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 - Additional Role: Judge of the Naples City and Uintah County Justice Courts (per 2026 election listing) - Also listed as a candidate for Judge of the Naples City and Uintah County Justice Courts in the November 3, 2026 general election - Judge Ray Robert Richards was appointed to the Vernal City Justice Court bench in 2012 - Ray Robert Richards is a judge of the Eighth District Justice Court in Utah, serving in Vernal, Utah, and also associated with the Naples City and Uintah County Justice Courts - Prior Career: 16 years with the Eighth District Juvenile Court — first as a probation officer, later as Chief Probation Officer ### Education - Degree: Social Work, Utah State University, 1996 ### Additional information - Presiding Judge: Jeri Allphin - Other Work: Certified firefighter with the State of Utah; currently volunteers with both Vernal City and Uintah County - Active in volunteer work in Vernal City and Uintah County - Certified firefighter, contributing to public safety efforts ## 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/justice-courts/eighth-district-justice-court/ray-r-richards.html) - [Official roster](https://www.utcourts.gov/en/courts/other-court-info/judges-bios/justice-courts/eighth-district-justice-court/ray-r-richards.html) - [Utah State Courts official judicial roster](https://www.utcourts.gov/en/courts/other-court-info/judges-bios/justice-courts/eighth-district-justice-court/ray-r-richards.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 RAY R. RICHARDS](https://www.utcourts.gov/en/courts/other-court-info/judges-bios/justice-courts/eighth-district-justice-court/ray-r-richards.html) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/ray-r-richards-justice-court-judge-utah-eighth-district-justice-court-ut", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/ray-r-richards-justice-court-judge-utah-eighth-district-justice-court-ut", "name": "Ray R. Richards | KnowJudges", "description": "Ray R. Richards, Utah Eighth District Justice Court. 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Richards", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/ray-r-richards-justice-court-judge-utah-eighth-district-justice-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.