JPEC Notice: Judge Douglas Nielsen was appointed to the fourth district juvenile court October 2016.  Because of his appointment, he will not be standing for re‐election to retain his seat as a justice court judge in November 2016.

Part-time justice court judges standing for retention in 2016 are required to meet three minimum performance standards adopted by the judicial branch and enacted by the legislature.

Judge Nielsen met these standards:

1. He participated annually in no less than 30 hours of continuing legal education for each year of his current term;
2. He held no cases under advisement for more than two months; and
3. He has not been the subject of any public reprimands issued by the Judicial Conduct Commission or the Utah Supreme Court during his term of office.

Based solely on compliance with these standards, the commission recommends retention for Judge Nielsen.

Judge Douglas Nielsen was appointed to the Lehi Justice Court in 2013 and the Alpine/Highland Justice Court in 2014. He earned a bachelor degree from Utah State University in 2004 and graduated from Oklahoma City University Law School in 2007. During law school, Judge Nielsen interned for the Oklahoma County Public Defenders Association and the Utah County Public Defenders Association. In 2007, he became an associate at Young, Kester & Petro and, in 2010, formed the law firm of Petro & Nielsen, where he served until his appointment to the bench.