Retention election · Nov 3, 2026
Charles A. Stormont
Third District Court
JPECMeets or exceeds standardsWhat this court does
The main trial court for Salt Lake, Summit and Tooele counties: felonies, civil lawsuits, divorce and custody, probate and more.
On every Salt Lake County ballot, including Taylorsville. Vote Yes to keep this judge for 6 more years, or No to remove. More Yes than No votes retains the judge.
The evaluation below is JPEC's official evaluation, quoted and summarized from its report. This guide does not rate judges.
Details: scores, feedback, standards, sources
Ballot question: “Shall CHARLES A. STORMONT be retained in the office of Judge of the District Court of the Third Judicial District?” · On every Salt Lake County ballot, including Taylorsville.
92% of survey respondents recommend Judge Stormont for retention
JPEC survey scores (1–5 scale; JPEC reports list 3.6 as the minimum standard)
| Legal ability | 4.3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Integrity & temperament | 4.6 | |
| Administrative skills | 4.6 | |
| Procedural fairness | 4.6 |
Compared with peers (JPEC)
- Consistent with peers: Legal Ability, Integrity & Judicial Temperament, Administrative Skills, Procedural Fairness
What survey respondents and observers said (JPEC summary)
- Respondents and courtroom observers appreciate Judge Stormont’s kind, patient temperament and respectful interactions with those in court.
- Both groups say that he is fair and thoughtful, and they commend his impartial, equal treatment of court participants.
- Several respondents say that the judge needs to be more efficient at managing the court calendar.
- A few suggest that he could benefit from additional training in criminal law.
- Observers appreciate his willingness to allow participants to be heard.
- All four observers report confidence that they would be treated fairly if they were to appear in Judge Stormont’s court.
Other standards (certified by the courts / Judicial Conduct Commission)
- Judicial Education: Pass
- Judicial Time Standard: Pass
- Judicial Discipline: Pass
- Fitness for Office: Pass
Biography (from JPEC)
Judge Charles A. Stormont was appointed to the Third District Court in June 2023 by Governor Spencer J. Cox, serving Salt Lake, Summit, and Tooele counties. He earned his undergraduate degree in mathematics and political science from Davidson College in 1998 and his law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law in 2001. Prior to his appointment, Judge Stormont served as the Director of Right of Way at the Utah Department of Transportation and worked extensively as a civil litigator. Throughout his career, Judge Stormont has been dedicated to serving his community. Deeply committed to ensuring equal access to the legal system, he currently serves on the Utah State Bar's Access to Justice Commission and several Court committees focused on community engagement and access to justice issues. Additionally, Judge Stormont volunteers his time serving on the boards of several local non-profit organizations.
Sources
About this office: Third District Court judge
A trial judge in Utah's general-jurisdiction court for Salt Lake, Summit and Tooele counties, who presides over felony trials, civil lawsuits, divorces and custody, and probate.
- Role
- Trial judge, Third Judicial District (33 judges)
- Hours
- Full-time
- Pay
- $224,750
- Typical week
- Daily court calendars (hearings, sentencings, trials), rulings in chambers, managing a heavy docket
Responsibilities and powers
- "The district court has original jurisdiction in all matters civil and criminal," except where the constitution or statute says otherwise, and can issue writs to enforce its orders (Utah Code 78A-5-102).
- Also handles lawyer discipline under Supreme Court rules, foreign protective orders, and some parental-rights cases (same).
- The Third Judicial District has 33 district court judges (78A-1-103).
A typical week [INFERRED from jurisdiction and court calendars]
- Mornings are often law-and-motion or criminal calendars (arraignments, pleas, sentencings); trials and evidentiary hearings take blocks of days; afternoons and evenings go to written rulings. Judges rotate through warrant and on-call duty.
Time commitment
- Full-time.
Staff and budget
- Each judge works with a judicial assistant (clerk) team and shares law clerks [INFERRED]. Trial courts are funded through the State Court Administrator line items in the state budget.
Pay
- $224,750 for FY2027, set directly in S.B. 8 (2026).