Retention election · Nov 3, 2026
Ryan M. Harris
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 RYAN M. HARRIS be retained in the office of Judge of the Court of Appeals of Utah?” · On every Salt Lake County ballot, including Taylorsville.
91% of survey respondents recommend Judge Harris 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 | 4.8 | |
| Procedural fairness | 4.7 |
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 that Judge Harris is intelligent, and they value his preparedness and organization, especially in his timely opinions.
- They also appreciate his thoughtful questions during oral arguments.
- A few say the judge’s demeanor reveals irritation, particularly with oral arguments he disagrees with.
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 Ryan M. Harris was appointed to the Utah Court of Appeals in June 2017 by Governor Gary R. Herbert. Prior to his appointment, Judge Harris served as a trial judge in the Third District Court for nearly six years, where he served as the Associate Presiding Judge. While a trial judge, Judge Harris also served on various committees, including the Advisory Committee on Model Civil Jury Instructions and the Small Claims Jury Committee. Judge Harris also twice received the Judicial Excellence Award from the Litigation Section of the Utah State Bar. Judge Harris graduated magna cum laude and with University honors from Brigham Young University in 1995, and graduated with distinction from Stanford Law School in 1998. Upon graduating from law school, Judge Harris served as a judicial clerk to the Honorable Stephen H. Anderson of the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. Following his clerkship, Judge Harris practiced law in Salt Lake City at the firm of Jones, Waldo, Holbrook & McDonough, where in addition to maintaining a civil trial practice he also served on the firm's board of directors and executive committee. Judge Harris also worked as an adjunct professor of law at the University of Utah's S.J. Quinney College of Law. Prior to his appointment to the Third District Court, Judge Harris served as a small claims judge for eight years. Judge Harris is a past chairperson of the Litigation Section of the Utah State Bar.
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].