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Judges' Biographies
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PRESIDING JUDGE JAMES L. SHUMATE |  | Judge James L. Shumate was appointed to the Fifth Circuit Court in January 1991 by Governor Norman H. Bangerter. He became a district court judge in January 1992 and serves Beaver, Iron, and Washington Counties. He received his law degree from the University of Utah College of Law in 1975. He was Iron County attorney from 1979 to 1982. Judge Shumate is a past member of the Governor's Substance Abuse and Anti-Violence Coordinating Council. He worked on the formation of the Washington County Domestic Violence Coalition with others in the concerned agencies of Washington County. Judge Shumate presided over the formation of the Washington County Drug Court and manages the Drug Court calendar in the District Court for Washington County. Judge Shumate serves as Presiding Judge of the Fifth Judicial District. |
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ASSOCIATE PRESIDING JUDGE G. MICHAEL WESTFALL |  | Judge G. Michael Westfall was appointed to the Fifth District Court in August 2003 by Gov. Michael O. Leavitt. He serves Beaver, Iron, and Washington counties. He graduated from the J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University in 1981. Prior to his appointment to the bench, Judge Westfall was a partner in the law firm of Gallian, Westfall, Wilcox and Welker, and had worked as a law clerk with the Utah County attorney’s office. Until his judicial appointment, he was a member of the American Trial Lawyers Association and the Academy of Family Mediators. Judge Westfall is a member of the Utah State Bar Association, the Federal District Court for Utah, the United States Supreme Court, and the Southern Utah Bar Association. He has been active in many community and civic organizations. From April 1998 to August 2003, Judge Westfall served as a small claims judge pro tempore in Washington County. He currently serves on the Judicial Council as well as the Policy and Planning Committee. Judge Westfall previously served on the Ethics Advisory Committee, and as the presiding judge in the Fifth District Court. 09/08
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JUDGE G. RAND BEACHAM |  | Judge G. Rand Beacham was appointed to the Fifth District Court in August 1995 by Governor Michael O. Leavitt. He serves Washington, Iron, and Beaver counties. Judge Beacham graduated from Snow College, Utah State University, and the University of Utah College of Law. Prior to his appointment to the bench, he was in private legal practice for 15 years in the areas of civil litigation, transactions, and business work. Judge Beacham has been a member of the Board of District Court Judges, the presiding judge of the Fifth District Court, co-chair of the Standing Committee on Children and Family Law, a member of the Judicial Council, and president of the Scott M. Matheson, Sr. American Inn of Court. 3/08 |
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JUDGE ERIC A. LUDLOW |  | Judge Eric A. Ludlow was appointed to the Fifth District Court in March 2003 by Governor Michael O. Leavitt. He serves Beaver, Iron, and Washington counties. Judge Ludlow received a law degree from the J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University in 1987. He worked as a deputy Washington County attorney from 1987 to 1991, and was the Washington County Attorney from 1991 until his appointment to the bench. Judge Ludlow was appointed in 1998 as a special assistant United States attorney by the Department of Justice, also serving as the Santa Clara City prosecutor. At the time of his judicial appointment, Judge Ludlow was serving as chairman of the Board of Directors of the Utah Prosecution Council and serving on the Governing Board of the Dixie Regional Medical Center, the St. George Area Chamber of Commerce, and was a Trustee on the Dixie State College Board of Trustees. He was a charter board member of the Washington County Children’s Justice Center until the time of his appointment. Judge Ludlow is a member of the Utah State Bar, the United States Federal 10th Circuit District Court, and the United States Supreme Court Bar. 9/05
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JUDGE JOHN WALTON |  | Judge John J. Walton was appointed to the Fifth District Court in November 2005 by Gov. Jon M. Huntsman, Jr. He serves Beaver, Iron, and Washington counties. Judge Walton graduated from Utah State University in 1990 and the J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University in 1993. Prior to his appointment to the bench, Judge Walton served as a Deputy Washington County Attorney. Before this, he was an associate and shareholder with Jones Waldo Holbrook & McDonough. Judge Walton was appointed as a Special Assistant United States Attorney in 2005. He is a member of the Scott M. Matheson American Inn of Court and the Southern Utah Bar Association. 09/09 |
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