--- title: "Ryan E. Christiansen | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/ryan-e-christiansen-district-court-judge-utah-fifth-district-court-ut" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # Ryan E. Christiansen Utah Fifth District Court · District Court Judge ## Profile - Court: Utah Fifth 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 - Governor Spencer J. Cox appointed Judge Christiansen to the Fifth District Court in September 2024, a position subject to Utah Senate confirmation - Utah District Court judge appointed in September 2024 to serve Beaver, Iron, and Washington Counties, with a background in state prosecution and legal advocacy in Southern Utah - Earlier in his career, he held a position as an associate at the St. George law firm Gallian, Westfall, Wilcox, Welker, and Olson - Prior to his state service, Judge Christiansen worked as an associate with the St. George firm of Gallian, Westfall, Wilcox, Welker, and Olson. - Prior to his appointment, Judge Christiansen served as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Utah in the Child and Family Support Division, where he was the Southern Section Director. ### Education - Bachelor’s degree in political science and history from Manchester College and a law degree from the J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University. - in Political Science and History — Manchester College — B.A. - J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University — J.D. ### Additional information - Assisted with other matters in Southern Utah - Also President of the Southern Utah Bar Association for four years. - Appointed to fill vacancies left by Judges Eric A. Ludlow and Ann Marie McIff Allen - He also served as lead prosecutor on criminal nonsupport cases throughout Southern Utah. - Before his judicial appointment, Christiansen served 16 years as an Assistant Attorney General in the Utah Attorney General’s Office, most recently as Southern Section Director of the Child and Family Support Division. - He now presides over cases in Beaver, Iron, and Washington Counties. - In his acceptance of the appointment, Christiansen expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve, noting his long career in Southern Utah courtrooms and his commitment to fidelity to the Constitution, integrity, and respectful treatment of all in the courtroom. ## 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/fifth-district-court/ryan-e-christiansen.html) - [Official roster](https://www.utcourts.gov/en/courts/other-court-info/judges-bios/district-courts/fifth-district-court/ryan-e-christiansen.html) - [Utah State Courts official judicial roster](https://www.utcourts.gov/en/courts/other-court-info/judges-bios/district-courts/fifth-district-court/ryan-e-christiansen.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 RYAN E. CHRISTIANSEN](https://www.utcourts.gov/en/courts/other-court-info/judges-bios/district-courts/fifth-district-court/ryan-e-christiansen.html) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/ryan-e-christiansen-district-court-judge-utah-fifth-district-court-ut", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/ryan-e-christiansen-district-court-judge-utah-fifth-district-court-ut", "name": "Ryan E. Christiansen | KnowJudges", "description": "Ryan E. Christiansen, Utah Fifth District Court. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-08-02", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/ryan-e-christiansen-district-court-judge-utah-fifth-district-court-ut#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/ryan-e-christiansen-district-court-judge-utah-fifth-district-court-ut#judge", "name": "Ryan E. Christiansen", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/ryan-e-christiansen-district-court-judge-utah-fifth-district-court-ut", "jobTitle": "District Court Judge", "worksFor": { "@type": "GovernmentOrganization", "name": "Utah Fifth District Court" }, "sameAs": [ "https://www.utcourts.gov/en/courts/other-court-info/judges-bios/district-courts/fifth-district-court/ryan-e-christiansen.html" ], "alumniOf": [] }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "KnowJudges", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Utah", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/state/utah" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ryan E. Christiansen", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/ryan-e-christiansen-district-court-judge-utah-fifth-district-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.