--- title: "Rita M. Cornish | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/rita-m-cornish-business-and-chancery-court-judge-utah-business-and-chancery-court-ut" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # Rita M. Cornish Utah Business and Chancery Court · Business and Chancery Court Judge ## Profile - Court: Utah Business and Chancery Court - State: Utah - Role: Business and Chancery 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 State Court judge serving on the Second District Court and, since July 2024, as the first judge of the new Business and Chancery Court - Business and Chancery Court Judge — Appointed by Governor Spencer J. Cox in July 2024 as the first judge in this specialized court, created by Utah Legislature House Bill 216 in 2023 to handle complex commercial litigation - Second District Court Judge — Appointed by Governor Gary R. Herbert in November 2020, took the bench in January 2021, and serves Davis, Morgan, and Weber Counties - Private Practice — Shareholder at Parr Brown Gee & Loveless, P.C. (2007–2021) - Joined the law firm of Parr Brown Gee & Loveless in 2007, where she maintained a complex-civil litigation practice, including ADR, trial, and appellate work, until her appointment to the bench. - Legal Clerkship — Clerk for Hon. Carolyn B. McHugh on the Utah Court of Appeals (2006–2007) - Judge Cornish has emphasized her commitment to serving Utah’s citizens and business community with “diligence, integrity, and fairness” in her new Business and Chancery Court role ### Education - Legal Education — J.D. with highest honors from the S.J. Quinney College of Law, University of Utah (Order of the Coif, 2006) - Bachelor's degree and Ph.D in Chemistry from the University of Utah. ### Additional information - Judge Cornish received the Young Alumna of the Year award from the S.J. Quinney College of Law in 2009. - She graduated from the University of Utah, S.J. Quinney College of Law with highest honors, Order of the Coif in 2006, where she served on the staff of the Utah Law Review and was an editor for the Journal of Law and Family Studies. - focusing on complex civil litigation, including construction disputes, corporate matters, fiduciary duty breaches, and ADR. - Leadership Roles — Former President of the S.J. Quinney College of Law Young Alumni Association; member of the S.J. Quinney College of Law Board of Trustees - Treasurer and Secretary of the Salt Lake County Bar Association. ## 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/business-chancery/rita-m-cornish.html) - [Official roster](https://www.utcourts.gov/en/courts/other-court-info/judges-bios/business-chancery/rita-m-cornish.html) - [Utah State Courts official judicial roster](https://www.utcourts.gov/en/courts/other-court-info/judges-bios/business-chancery/rita-m-cornish.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 RITA M. CORNISH](https://www.utcourts.gov/en/courts/other-court-info/judges-bios/business-chancery/rita-m-cornish.html) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/rita-m-cornish-business-and-chancery-court-judge-utah-business-and-chancery-court-ut", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/rita-m-cornish-business-and-chancery-court-judge-utah-business-and-chancery-court-ut", "name": "Rita M. Cornish | KnowJudges", "description": "Rita M. Cornish, Utah Business and Chancery Court. 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