--- title: "Richard Pehrson | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/richard-pehrson-district-court-judge-utah-third-district-court-ut" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # Richard Pehrson Utah Third District Court · District Court Judge ## Profile - Court: Utah Third 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 District Court Judge appointed in May 2024 to the Third District Court, serving Salt Lake, Summit, and Tooele counties - In his nomination remarks, Pehrson expressed commitment to “the fair application of justice” and creating a courtroom where “every litigant feels heard” - Prior to his appointment, Judge Pehrson served as the Homicide Subject Matter Expert in the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office, where he specialized in cases involving murder, kidnapping, and gang violence. ### Education - Bachelor's degree from the University of Utah and his law degree from George Mason University in the Washington DC metro area. - in Political Science — University of Utah — B.A. - George Mason University School of Law, Washington, D.C. area — J.D. ### Additional information - Appointed to the Third District Court in May of 2024 by Governor Spencer Cox. - The year before his appointment, Pehrson tried more than 30 cumulative days in five homicide jury trials to verdict. - Model Utah Jury Instruction (MUJI) Committee and the Supreme Court’s Jury Equity Project Committee - focusing on ensuring fair trials for all Utah citizens. - He presides over cases in Salt Lake, Summit, and Tooele counties, and is recognized for his expertise in serious criminal matters. - Before his judicial appointment, Pehrson held the role of the Homicide Subject Matter Expert in the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office, specializing in murder, kidnapping, and gang violence cases. - He has prosecuted thousands of felony cases, including two death penalty aggravated murder cases, over 30 other murders, aggravated kidnapping, robbery, burglary, assault, as well as financial and narcotic crimes. - He also held a position as an associate city prosecutor for Salt Lake City and taught at multiple Police Officer Standards and Training (POST) Academies, as well as Citizenship and Naturalization classes for refugees and immigrants. - Judge Pehrson received the Call to Service Award from the President of the United States and was named Utah’s “Presidential Greeter,” later attending a White House reception for national recipients. ## 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/third-district-court/richard-pehrson.html) - [Official roster](https://www.utcourts.gov/en/courts/other-court-info/judges-bios/district-courts/third-district-court/richard-pehrson.html) - [Utah State Courts official judicial roster](https://www.utcourts.gov/en/courts/other-court-info/judges-bios/district-courts/third-district-court/richard-pehrson.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 RICHARD PEHRSON](https://www.utcourts.gov/en/courts/other-court-info/judges-bios/district-courts/third-district-court/richard-pehrson.html) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/richard-pehrson-district-court-judge-utah-third-district-court-ut", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/richard-pehrson-district-court-judge-utah-third-district-court-ut", "name": "Richard Pehrson | KnowJudges", "description": "Richard Pehrson, Utah Third District 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.