Retention election · Nov 3, 2026
Michele M. Christiansen Forster
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 MICHELE M. CHRISTIANSEN FORSTER be retained in the office of Judge of the Court of Appeals of Utah?” · On every Salt Lake County ballot, including Taylorsville.
94% of survey respondents recommend Judge Christiansen Forster for retention.
JPEC survey scores (1–5 scale; JPEC reports list 3.6 as the minimum standard)
| Legal ability | 4.5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Integrity & temperament | 4.8 | |
| Administrative skills | 4.7 | |
| Procedural fairness | 4.8 |
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 say this judge is well prepared and thoughtful, particularly during oral arguments.
- They also commend her respectful interactions, describing her as kind and approachable.
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 Michele M. Christiansen Forster was appointed to the Utah Court of Appeals in June 2010 by Gov. Gary Herbert. Prior to her appointment, Judge Christiansen Forster had been serving as a Third District Court Judge since May 2007. Judge Christiansen Forster received her law degree from the University of Utah College of Law in 1995. She then served as a judicial law clerk for one year with the Honorable Tena Campbell, United States District Court Judge for the District of Utah, following which she joined the Salt Lake law firm of Parsons Behle & Latimer. In March 1998, Judge Christiansen Forster joined the United States Attorney's Office, District of Utah, as an Assistant United States Attorney. In January 2005, she was appointed executive director of the Utah Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice and in July of 2006, Judge Christiansen Forster became general counsel to Gov. Jon M. Huntsman, Jr. During her tenure in the Governor's Office, Judge Christiansen Forster co-chaired the Utah Methamphetamine Joint Task Force and chaired the Utah Sexual Violence Council. She served as a member of the Guardian Ad Litem Oversight Panel, the Utah Sentencing Commission Executive Committee, the Utah Substance Abuse and Anti-Violence Coordinating Council, the Governor's Violence Against Women and Families Cabinet Council, the Initiative on Utah Children in Foster Care, and the Access to Justice Council. Judge Christiansen Forster is an adjunct professor at the University of Utah S. J. Quinney College of Law, and currently serves as Co-chair of the Utah State Bar's Pro Bono Commission and on the Salt Lake County Bar Association Executive Committee. The judge is the past-president of the David K. Watkiss-Sutherland II Inn of Court, and previously served on the Executive Board of Women Lawyers of Utah, the Judicial Council's Ethics Advisory Opinion Committee, and as the chair of the Judicial Council's Commissioner Conduct Committee.
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].