Retention election · Nov 3, 2026
Gregory K. Orme
Utah Court of Appeals
JPECMeets or exceeds standardsWhat this court does
Hears most appeals from the district and juvenile courts, except cases that go straight to the Supreme Court. Nine judges, statewide.
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 GREGORY KEITH ORME be retained in the office of Judge of the Court of Appeals of Utah?” · On every Salt Lake County ballot, including Taylorsville.
97% of survey respondents recommend Judge Orme for retention.
JPEC survey scores (1–5 scale; JPEC reports list 3.6 as the minimum standard)
| Legal ability | 4.8 | |
|---|---|---|
| Integrity & temperament | 4.8 | |
| Administrative skills | 4.8 | |
| Procedural fairness | 4.9 |
Compared with peers (JPEC)
- Above peers: Legal Ability, Procedural Fairness
- Consistent with peers: Integrity & Judicial Temperament, Administrative Skills
What survey respondents and observers said (JPEC summary)
- Respondents commend Judge Orme’s institutional knowledge and find him to be “exceptionally capable.”
- They appreciate his equal treatment and judicial demeanor, particularly his respectful and professional conduct.
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 Gregory K. Orme is the longest tenured member of the Utah Court of Appeals. He graduated from the University of Utah, magna cum laude, in 1975. Three years later he received his law degree, with high honors, from George Washington University, in Washington D.C. Judge Orme served as a law clerk to Judge Monroe G. McKay, United States Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. He was a partner in the law firm of VanCott, Bagley, Cornwall & McCarthy at the time of his appointment to the Court of Appeals. Judge Orme has served two prior terms as the court's presiding judge, four terms on the Utah Judicial Council, six years as chair of the Ethics Advisory Committee, ten years on the Judicial Performance Evaluation Committee, six years as chair of the Commissioner Conduct Committee, and twelve years on the Utah Sentencing Commission. Judge Orme currently serves on the Utah Supreme Court's Advisory Committee on the Rules of Appellate Procedure, and he is the judicial advisor to the Utah Bar Journal. Judge Orme received the Utah State Bar's annual awards for Young Lawyer of the Year (1986) and Judge of the Year (2007). He is a four-time recipient of the Judicial Excellence Award from the Utah State Bar's Litigation Section. He is a Life Fellow of the American Bar Foundation.
Sources
About this office: Utah Court of Appeals judge
One of nine judges on Utah's intermediate appeals court, sitting in panels of three to review most appeals from district and juvenile courts and from state agencies.
- Role
- Appellate judge (9 judges)
- Hours
- Full-time
- Pay
- $236,000 (105% of the District Court salary) [COMPUTED]
- Typical week
- Briefs and records, three-judge panel arguments, opinion writing
Responsibilities and powers
- The Court of Appeals "consists of nine judges"; after the first term, terms are six years (Utah Code 78A-4-102).
- Hears appeals from juvenile courts, most criminal appeals except first-degree and capital felonies, district-court reviews of local agency decisions, appeals of state agency adjudications (including hearings before local school boards or the State Board of Education), and cases the Supreme Court transfers to it (78A-4-103).
A typical week [INFERRED from jurisdiction and appellate practice]
- Like the Supreme Court: reading, panel arguments, conferences and opinion drafting, with a larger caseload per judge and many shorter decisions.
Time commitment
- Full-time.
Staff and budget
- Funded through the State Court Administrator line items in the state budget (S.B. 8, 2026, item 175). Judges work with law clerks and judicial assistants [INFERRED].
Pay
- $236,000 for FY2027 (105% of $224,750 = $235,987.50, rounded) [COMPUTED].