Ryan M. Harris

Survey Respondent Recommendation: 91% of survey respondents recommend Judge Harris for retention.

Performance Measures: Survey scores are analyzed for statistical significance to determine if the judge scored well above, above, consistent with, below, or well below their appellate court peers.

Consistent with Peers: Legal Ability, Integrity & Judicial Temperament, Administrative Skills, Procedural Fairness

Respondent Feedback: Respondents say that Judge Harris is intelligent, and they value his preparedness and organization, especially his timely opinions. They also appreciate his thoughtful questions during oral arguments. A few say the judge’s demeanor reveals irritation, particularly with oral arguments he disagrees with.

Judge Ryan M. Harris was appointed to the Utah Court of Appeals in June 2017 by Governor Gary R. Herbert. Prior to his appointment, Judge Harris served as a trial judge in the Third District Court for nearly six years, where he served as the Associate Presiding Judge. While a trial judge, Judge Harris also served on various committees, including the Advisory Committee on Model Civil Jury Instructions and the Small Claims Jury Committee. Judge Harris also twice received the Judicial Excellence Award from the Litigation Section of the Utah State Bar. Judge Harris graduated magna cum laude and with University honors from Brigham Young University in 1995, and graduated with distinction from Stanford Law School in 1998. Upon graduating from law school, Judge Harris served as a judicial clerk to the Honorable Stephen H. Anderson of the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. Following his clerkship, Judge Harris practiced law in Salt Lake City at the firm of Jones, Waldo, Holbrook & McDonough, where in addition to maintaining a civil trial practice he also served on the firm's board of directors and executive committee. Judge Harris also worked as an adjunct professor of law at the University of Utah's S.J. Quinney College of Law. Prior to his appointment to the Third District Court, Judge Harris served as a small claims judge for eight years. Judge Harris is a past chairperson of the Litigation Section of the Utah State Bar.