--- title: "Thaddeus May | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/thaddeus-may-district-court-judge-utah-third-district-court-ut" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # Thaddeus May 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 - Assistant United States Attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah since 2018, serving as Deputy Chief of the Violent Crime Division - Judge Thaddeus J. May is a Utah District Court judge appointed in February 2025 to the Third District Court, serving Salt Lake, Summit, and Tooele counties - Governor Spencer J. Cox appointed Judge May to the Third District Court in February 2025, filling a vacancy created by Judge Holmberg’s retirement - Earlier, as Deputy District Attorney for Salt Lake County, prosecuted special victim crimes, violent crimes, and homicides - Judge May also holds a bachelor’s degree in History from Brigham Young University - In his own words, Judge May expressed gratitude for the appointment and a commitment to uphold the law with fidelity, ensuring all litigants receive the dignity the law affords ### Education - University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law — J.D. (2006) - in History — Brigham Young University — B.A. ### Additional information - DOJ Program Coordinator of the Year (2022). - Named Utah’s Legal Elite (2022). - DEA Administrator’s Award (2019). - Immediately prior to his judicial appointment, Judge May was an Assistant United States Attorney in the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah. - Argued major cases, including a murder trial and a large-scale narcotics conspiracy. - Official bio: Utah State Courts — Judge Thaddeus J. May. - Deputy chief of the Violent Crime division where he prosecuted violent crime in tribal communities and served as the Tribal Liaison for the District of Utah. - Oversaw federal prosecutions on Utah’s tribal lands, coordinated with Native American communities, and held the role of Tribal Liaison for the District of Utah. - Prior to his federal service, Judge May was a Deputy District Attorney with the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office where he prosecuted special victim crime, violent crime, and homicides. - His jurisdiction covers Salt Lake, Summit, and Tooele counties. ## 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/judge-thaddeus-j--may.html) - [Official roster](https://www.utcourts.gov/en/courts/other-court-info/judges-bios/district-courts/third-district-court/judge-thaddeus-j--may.html) - [Utah State Courts official judicial roster](https://www.utcourts.gov/en/courts/other-court-info/judges-bios/district-courts/third-district-court/judge-thaddeus-j--may.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 THADDEUS J. MAY](https://www.utcourts.gov/en/courts/other-court-info/judges-bios/district-courts/third-district-court/judge-thaddeus-j--may.html) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/thaddeus-may-district-court-judge-utah-third-district-court-ut", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/thaddeus-may-district-court-judge-utah-third-district-court-ut", "name": "Thaddeus May | KnowJudges", "description": "Thaddeus May, 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.