Utah’s Fourth District Court Nominees Announced for New Judicial Vacancy
Why It Matters
Utah’s judicial landscape is set to expand following the announcement of five nominees for a newly created seat on the Fourth District Court. The appointment will shape how justice is administered across one of the state’s busiest judicial districts, with the selection process now entering a critical public comment phase.
The vacancy was created by the Utah Legislature during the 2026 Legislative Session, reflecting ongoing efforts to address the state’s growing caseload demands at the district court level. This comes as questions surrounding judicial conduct and legislative oversight of the courts continue to draw attention at the state capitol.
What Happened
The Fourth District Judicial Nominating Commission formally announced five nominees on May 1, 2026, for the new judgeship on the Fourth District Court. The commission released the names following what is described as a standard vetting process, and the nominees represent a cross-section of prosecutorial, defense, federal, and private legal practice.
The five nominees are:
Joshua Esplin, Assistant Director and Trial Attorney with the Utah County Public Defenders Association; Brian Miller, Deputy County Attorney with the Utah County Attorney’s Office; Samuel Pead, Assistant United States Attorney with the United States Attorney’s Office; Meagan Rudd, Partner and Attorney at The Rudd Firm P.C.; and Ryan Stack, Deputy County Attorney and Prosecuting Attorney for Summit County.
The announcement signals that the judiciary branch is moving quickly to fill the seat created by lawmakers earlier this year.
By the Numbers
5 — Total nominees submitted by the Fourth District Judicial Nominating Commission for the open seat.
1 — New judicial position created by the Utah Legislature during the 2026 Legislative Session.
Noon, May 11, 2026 — Deadline for members of the public to submit written comments to the Nominating Commission.
30 days — The window Governor Spencer J. Cox will have to make an appointment once nominee names are formally transmitted to his office.
1 — Final appointee, subject to confirmation by the Utah Senate before assuming the bench.
Zoom Out
Utah’s structured judicial nomination process — which routes candidates through an independent nominating commission before elevating the final decision to the governor — reflects a broader national movement toward merit-based judicial selection. Many states have adopted hybrid models that aim to balance executive appointment authority with nonpartisan vetting to reduce the politicization of court appointments.
At the federal level, judicial vacancies have remained a focal point of political debate, making state-level processes like Utah’s a model for those who favor structured accountability over purely political appointments. The confirmation requirement by the Utah Senate adds an additional layer of legislative oversight to the process.
The Fourth District Court covers Utah County and serves one of the fastest-growing regions in the state. Population growth across the Wasatch Front has increased pressure on state courts in recent years, prompting legislators to authorize new judgeships to keep pace with demand. Separately, the Nominating Commission also announced nominees on May 1 for two vacancies on the Utah Supreme Court, underscoring the scope of judicial expansion currently underway statewide.
What’s Next
Members of the public who wish to weigh in on any of the five nominees may submit written comments to the Fourth District Judicial Nominating Commission via email or by mail to the Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice, P.O. Box 142330, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-2330. Comments must be received by noon on May 11, 2026.
Following the close of the public comment period, the commission may conduct further inquiry or investigation into the nominees before transmitting the finalized list to Governor Spencer J. Cox. The governor will then have 30 days to select and announce his appointee.
Once the governor makes his selection, the appointment will move to the Utah Senate for confirmation. If confirmed, the new judge will begin serving on the Fourth District Court, adding capacity to a district that has seen substantial legal demand driven by population and economic growth in Utah County and surrounding areas.