Nominees announced for Third District Court vacancy
September 21, 2026/Press
SALT LAKE CITY (Sept. 21, 2026) — The Third District Judicial Nominating Commission has selected nominees for a vacancy on the Third District Court. The vacancy will result from Judge Robert Faust’s retirement on Jan. 1, 2027.
List of Nominees
The nominees for the vacancy are: Michael Barnhill, partner, Michael Best & Friedrich; Matthew Janzen, Special Victims Unit division chief and deputy county attorney, Davis County Attorney’s Office; Breanne Miller, deputy district attorney, Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office; Jennifer Parrish, partner, Magleby Cataxinos, pro tempore judge, Salt Lake City Justice Court; Lara Swensen, partner, James Dodge Russell & Stephens.
Public Comment Process
Written comments can be submitted to the Department of Criminal Justice at judicialvacancies@utah.gov or Department of Criminal Justice, P.O. Box 142330, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-2330. The deadline for written comments is noon on Oct. 1, 2026. After the public comment period, the names will be certified and sent to Gov. Spencer J. Cox, who will have 30 days to make the appointment. Gov. Cox’s appointee is subject to confirmation by the Utah Senate.
