Retention election · Nov 3, 2026
Steven K. Beck
Third District Juvenile Court
JPECMeets or exceeds standardsWhat this court does
Handles cases involving minors in Salt Lake, Summit and Tooele counties: delinquency, abuse and neglect, and parental-rights cases.
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 STEVEN K. BECK be retained in the office of Judge of the Juvenile Court of the Third Juvenile Court District?” · On every Salt Lake County ballot, including Taylorsville.
100% of survey respondents recommend Judge Beck for retention.
JPEC survey scores (1–5 scale; JPEC reports list 3.6 as the minimum standard)
| Legal ability | 4.7 | |
|---|---|---|
| Integrity & temperament | 4.9 | |
| Administrative skills | 4.9 | |
| Procedural fairness | 4.9 |
Compared with peers (JPEC)
- Above peers: Legal Ability, Integrity & Judicial Temperament, Administrative Skills, Procedural Fairness
What survey respondents and observers said (JPEC summary)
- Respondents find Judge Beck to be a particularly capable judge and applaud his dedication to, and knowledge of, the law.
- One respondent said that he “seems to do everything exceedingly well.”
- Respondents say the judge is prepared and efficient as well as attentive and thorough before making decisions. They, along with courtroom observers, appreciate his neutrality, steady temperament, and compassion for those in court.
- All four observers report confidence that they would be treated fairly if they were to appear in Judge Beck’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 Steven K. Beck was appointed to the Third District Juvenile Court in July 2017 by Governor Gary R. Herbert. He serves Salt Lake, Summit, and Tooele counties. Judge Beck earned a B.S. degree in Political Science and degrees of Master of Public Administration and Juris Doctor from the University of Utah where he received the S. J. Quinney College of Law Outstanding Achievement Award in Juvenile Justice. From 2005 until 2015, he prosecuted delinquency cases in juvenile court for the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office and from 2015 until his appointment to the bench, Judge Beck defended youth as a member of Utah Juvenile Defender Attorneys. Judge Beck is a former chair of the Utah Board of Juvenile Court Judges and is vice chair of the Juvenile Justice Oversight Committee.
Sources
About this office: Third District Juvenile Court judge
A judge in the court for young people and families, who handles offenses by minors, child abuse and neglect cases, and other child-welfare matters in Salt Lake, Summit and Tooele counties.
- Role
- Juvenile court judge, Third Judicial District (9 judges)
- Hours
- Full-time
- Pay
- $224,750
- Typical week
- Detention and delinquency hearings, child-welfare review hearings, rulings; work with caseworkers, guardians ad litem and probation
Responsibilities and powers
- Original jurisdiction over felonies, misdemeanors, infractions and ordinance violations committed by a child, and in some cases by young adults for offenses committed before 18, plus child-welfare findings and magistrate functions when a minor is tried as an adult (Utah Code 78A-6-103).
- The Third Judicial District has nine juvenile court judges (78A-1-104).
A typical week [INFERRED from jurisdiction]
- Back-to-back short hearings: detention reviews, delinquency adjudications and dispositions, and recurring review hearings in abuse and neglect cases, often with the same families over months or years.
Time commitment
- Full-time.
Staff and budget
- Judicial assistants and court staff; juvenile probation officers are part of the court system [INFERRED].
Pay
- $224,750 for FY2027 (100% of the District Court salary under 67-8-2).