Retention election · Nov 3, 2026
Matthew Bates
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 MATTHEW DAVID BATES be retained in the office of Judge of the District Court of the Third Judicial District?” · On every Salt Lake County ballot, including Taylorsville.
91% of survey respondents recommend Judge Bates for retention
JPEC survey scores (1–5 scale; JPEC reports list 3.6 as the minimum standard)
| Legal ability | 4.5 | |
|---|---|---|
| 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)
- Both respondents and courtroom observers find Judge Bates to be informative and willing to provide information and ensure understanding of those in court.
- Both groups value his respectful approach on the bench, describing him as friendly and approachable.
- Observers appreciate the judge’s consideration of defendants’ situations and circumstances.
- All four observers report confidence that they would be treated fairly if they were to appear in Judge Bates’ 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)
Matthew Bates was appointed to the Utah Third District Court by Governor Gary R. Herbert in July 2016. He serves Salt Lake, Summit, and Tooele counties. Prior to his appointment, Judge Bates served as the Chief Prosecutor in the Summit County Attorney`s Office. He previously worked for the Salt Lake County District Attorney`s Office and in the Litigation and Criminal Appeals Divisions of the Utah Attorney General`s Office. Judge Bates graduated cum laude with a juris doctorate from the J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University in 2003.
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).