Retention election · Nov 3, 2026
Lisa Garner
Draper Municipal Justice Court & Herriman Municipal Justice Court
JPECMeets or exceeds standardsWhat this court does
A local court for misdemeanors, traffic and parking cases, small claims and city or county ordinance violations.
Only on ballots in the city this court serves; not on Taylorsville ballots. 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 LISA A. GARNER be retained in the office of Judge of the Draper Municipal Justice Court?” · Only on ballots in Draper and Herriman (not on Taylorsville ballots).
100% of survey respondents recommend Judge Garner for retention.
JPEC survey scores (1–5 scale; JPEC reports list 3.6 as the minimum standard)
| Legal ability | 4.9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Integrity & temperament | 4.9 | |
| Administrative skills | 4.9 | |
| Procedural fairness | 4.9 |
Compared with peers (JPEC)
- Above peers: Legal Skills, Integrity & Judicial Temperament, Administrative Skills, Procedural Fairness
What survey respondents and observers said (JPEC summary)
- Both respondents and courtroom observers admire Judge Garner’s competencies, including clear communication, her extensive understanding of the law, and her respectful, patient demeanor.
- Both describe her as attentive, willing to listen, and efficient in operating the calendar.
- One respondent said that she is “well prepared,” with “excellent discernment.”
- All four observers report confidence that they would be treated fairly if they were to appear in Judge Garner’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 Lisa A. Garner was appointed to the Draper City and Herriman City Justice Courts in 2023. Judge Garner earned her bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of Utah in 1993 and her law degree from the J. Reuben Clark Law School in 1996. Prior to her appointment, Judge Garner served as the Midvale City Attorney and Midvale City Prosecutor for 7 years. Previously, Judge Garner worked with Salt Lake Legal Defenders and later had her own criminal defense practice. During Judge Garner's criminal defense practice, she worked on felony and misdemeanor cases. In addition, she has worked in the title insurance industry, practicing in the areas of real estate and contract law.
Justice court judges are appointed by the city or county executive with the local council's consent (Utah Code 78A-7-202), not by the governor.
Sources
About this office: Justice Court judge
A local judge, appointed by a city or county, who handles class B and C misdemeanors, traffic tickets, city ordinance violations, and small claims.
- Role
- City or county justice court judge
- Hours
- Either; set by the city or county based on caseload
- Pay
- $182,210 (Salt Lake County Justice Court); state law sets 70–90% of a District judge's salary for full-time judges
- Typical week
- High-volume calendars: arraignments, traffic, DUI and domestic cases, small-claims trials, often including evening court
Responsibilities and powers
- Original jurisdiction over class B and C misdemeanors, ordinance violations and infractions committed in its territory by adults, and certain traffic and wildlife offenses by minors (Utah Code 78A-7-106).
- Appointed by the city or county executive with the council's consent (78A-7-202); six-year terms, then retention elections in the city or county (78A-7-203).
- Qualifications: U.S. citizen, at least 25, a Utah resident for three years; since May 3, 2023, new judges need a law degree (78A-7-201).
- Taylorsville note: Taylorsville's justice court was combined with West Jordan's municipal justice court, in effect by January 2026. No Taylorsville justice court judge is on the 2026 ballot. The Alta judge appears on every county ballot because Alta is a town (78A-7-203(2)(a)).
A typical week [INFERRED from jurisdiction]
- Many short hearings a day: arraignments, pleas, sentencing and reviews for traffic, DUI, retail theft and domestic cases; small-claims trials. Some courts hold evening sessions.
Time commitment
- Full-time or part-time. The State Court Administrator measures a part-time judge's caseload as a percentage of a full-time judge's caseload, and pay is prorated by that percentage (78A-7-206).
Staff and budget
- Court clerks employed by the city or county; budgets come from the city or county general fund [INFERRED].
Pay
- $182,210 for the Salt Lake County Justice Court judge (2026 SLCo salary schedule, from the guide's pay compilation). By law a full-time justice court judge earns 70%–90% of a District judge's salary (FY2027: $157,325–$202,275 [COMPUTED]) (78A-7-206).