JPEC Notice: Judge David Mortensen was appointed to the Utah Court of Appeals, effective June 15, 2016. Because of his appointment, he will not be standing for re‐election to retain his seat as a district court judge in November 2016.
Appointed in 2006, Judge David Mortensen receives outstanding evaluations from survey respondents, earning scores well above the average of his district court peers in all statutory survey categories. Survey respondents praise Judge Mortensen’s intelligence and preparation, with many calling him a model judge. They report that Judge Mortensen attentively listens to all participants while efficiently managing his courtroom schedule. Most respondents view him as fair and impartial even when he decides against them. From a list of adjectives, survey respondents select 96% positive words to describe him. All courtroom observers report that they would expect fair treatment in Judge Mortensen’s court. Of 94 survey respondents answering the retention question, 90 (97%) recommend that Judge Mortensen be retained.
The commission reviewed surveys and courtroom observation reports in addition to verifying that Judge Mortensen has met all time standards, judicial education requirements, and discipline standards established by the judicial branch.
Judge David N. Mortensen was appointed to the Fourth District Court in 2006 by Gov. Jon M. Huntsman, Jr. Judge Mortensen graduated from the J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University in 1993. He currently serves on the Utah Supreme Court Advisory Committee on the Rules of Evidence and on the Utah Judicial Council, with previous service as a member of the Board of District Court Judges. Judge Mortensen received the 2015 Judicial Excellence Award from the Litigation Section of the Utah State Bar. Currently, Judge Mortensen serves as the Presiding Judge of the Fourth District.