Samuel P. Chiara at a glance
- Current role
- Presiding Judge, District Court Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Utah · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Samuel P. Chiara
Presiding Judge, District Court Judge · Utah Eighth District Court
Biography
Professional career
- The Presiding Judge of Utah’s Eighth District Court, serving Daggett, Duchesne, and Uintah counties since 2013
- He also held the role of defense counsel for the Carbon County Drug Court
- His practice included criminal defense, domestic, probate, contract, property, parental defense, and personal injury law
Education
- in Accounting — Marriott School of Management, Brigham Young University — B.S.
Additional information
- He served on the Board of District Court Judges (2017–2020) and currently sits on the Judicial Council’s Policy and Planning Committee.
- Judge Chiara has been awarded the Utah State Bar Litigation Section Judicial Excellence Award in 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2020.
- He won a retention election in 2016 with 82.01% of the vote.
- Appointed by Governor Gary Herbert on August 28, 2013, Judge Chiara was confirmed by the Utah State Senate on October 16, 2013.
- Appointed to the Eighth District Court by Governor Gary Herbert in August 2013.
- J.D., magna cum laude — J. Reuben Clark Law School, BYU, 1997 Before his judicial appointment, Chiara practiced law in Price, Utah, first with Keith Chiara and later as a partner in Chiara & Torgerson.
- He presides over cases in Daggett, Duchesne, and Uintah counties and is also the Presiding Judge of the Eighth District Court.
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Electronic Media Coverage
Statewide
Utah permits electronic media coverage of public proceedings under statewide UCJA procedures, including proceedings conducted by remote transmission.
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 ↗
Media Request Process
Statewide
Utah requires requests for electronic media coverage to be made through the court's public information office.
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 ↗
Portable Electronic Devices
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.
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 ↗
Recording and broadcasting
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.
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 ↗
Published courtroom rules
Shared court rules
UCJA Rule 4-401.01 Electronic media coverage of court proceedings
Utah Eighth District Court
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 ↗ · Collected 2026-07-26UCJA Rule 4-401.02 Possession and use of portable electronic devices
Utah Eighth District Court
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 ↗ · Collected 2026-07-26Sources
Identity source checked July 26, 2026.
Biography sources checked October 11, 2026.
Utah State Courts official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Utah State Courts official judicial roster ↗UCJA Rule 4-401.01 Electronic media coverage of court proceedings
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View UCJA Rule 4-401.01 Electronic media coverage of court proceedings ↗UCJA Rule 4-401.02 Possession and use of portable electronic devices
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View UCJA Rule 4-401.02 Possession and use of portable electronic devices ↗