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Judges' Biographies
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JUDGE ROY BROWN | | | Judge Roy Brown was appointed to the Wayne County West Precinct Justice Court in 1988 and to the Wayne County Justice Court in 1992. He was born and has lived most of his life in Wayne County. He recently retired after working 35 years in the construction business and is active in civic activities. 4/10 |
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JUDGE RUSSELL BULKLEY | | | Judge Russell Bulkley was appointed to the Garfield County Justice Court in 2007. He served as a Panguitch City Justice Court judge from 1997 to 2007. Judge Bulkley received a Bachelor of Science degree from Utah State University in 1973, and graduated from the Utah Police Academy in 1974. He has been a volunteer firefighter for more than 30 years and also has served on the Panguitch City Council. 4/11
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JUDGE ELIZABETH A. CHRISTENSEN |  | Judge Elizabeth Christensen was appointed to the Escalante City Justice Court in 2005. Judge Christensen earned a Bachelor of Science degree in natural resource management from Utah State University in 1980, followed by a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education from Southern Utah University in 1990. She earned a certificate of legal studies in 2011. Judge Christensen has been an employee of the Garfield School District for the past 24 years. 5/11 |
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JUDGE JOHN R. COX., JR. |  | Judge John R. Cox, Jr., was appointed to the Sanpete County Justice Court in January 2010. He retired after 36 years working for the federal government in both the executive and legislative branches. Judge Cox holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Business Administration from Rhodes College, a master's degree in Finance from American University, and a law degree from George Washington University. 3/13
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JUDGE F. KIRK HEATON |  | Judge F. Kirk Heaton has served as the Kane County Justice Court Judge since April 1990. He previously served Kane County as its County Attorney for nine years. He received his law degree as a member of the charter class of the J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University. |
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JUDGE GARY JOHNSON | | | Judge Gary L. Johnson was appointed to serve as the Judge for the Kanab City Justice Court on July 1, 1998. Judge Johnson received his B.S. from Southern Utah University. He has attended The National Judicial College and completed the advanced evidence course and has completed both the Justice Court Orientation and the level one Legal Institute. He is currently (2003) enrolled in the level two Legal Institute. Judge Johnson currently serves on the Justice Court Board of Judges and has served in the past as assistant education director for the sixth district. Outside of the legal arena he serves as an assistant football coach for Kanab High School. |
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JUDGE MARTIN NAY | | | Judge Martin Nay was appointed to the Panguitch City Justice Court in 2007. Prior to this, he served as chief of police for approx. 20 years. Judge Nay served on the Post Council for eight years. 4/10 |
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JUDGE KENT NIELSEN |  | Judge Kent Nielsen was elected to the bench in 1983. Judge Nielsen is the first to graduate from both the national and state legal institutes for judges. He served two terms on the Utah Judicial Council, was chairman of the State Board of Justice Court Judges, and director for the Six County Judges. Judge Nielsen has served on the Court Technology Committee, the Justice Court Education Committee, the Court Curriculum Committee, and the Forms & Procedures Committee. Judge Kent Nielsen was awarded the Justice Court Judge of the Year, Regional Director of the Year, and twice awarded the Quality of Justice Award. 5/11
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JUDGE IVO RAY PETERSON |  | Judge Ivo Ray Peterson was appointed to the Manti City Justice Court in January 2000. Since this time, he has been appointed to the Ephraim, Fairview, Fountain Green, Gunnison, Mt. Pleasant, Moroni, and Spring City justice Courts. Judge Peterson completed the Utah Legal Institute for Justice Court judges in April 2002. He currently is the assistant regional director for education, has served on the committee to create a Drug Court in Sanpete County, and is a member of the Domestic Violence Team in Sanpete County. Judge Peterson earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Masters Degree in Fine Arts from the University of Utah. He is a Certified Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor through Utah State University. Judge Peterson regularly presents information on Utah law to high school driver's education classes, junior high civics classes, and fifth grade students . 4/10
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JUDGE THOMAS ROBERTSON |  | Judge Thomas Robertson has served at the Piute Justice Court since 2002. He has been a business owner in Piute County for the last 17 years and spent 25 years in the insurance business. Judge Robertson attended college in California. He has served on the Justice Court Education Committee since 2007 and has been the Sixth District Justice Court director since 2008. Judge Robertson received a certification in criminal law from the Legal Institute in 2009. 4/10 |
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JUDGE LES SCOTT |  | Judge Les Scott was appointed to the Salina City Justice Court in April 2001. Soon after, he was appointed to the Aurora City Justice Court. Prior to this, Judge Scott was employed by the City of Corona California"s police department for 29 years. He served four years in the patrol division and 25 years in the detective bureau until he retired. During this time, Judge Scott served as president of the Corona Police Officers Association for 17 years. 4/10
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JUDGE PETER J. THOMPSON |  | Judge Peter J. Thompson was appointed to the Big Water Justice Court in February 2006. Judge Thompson earned an Associate's Degree in Criminal Justice and is currently pursuing a law degree with William Howard Taft University's School of Law. Judge Thompson attended the Reno Judicial College where he completed a course in Special Court Jurisdiction. Judge Thomson is currently enrolled in the Legal Institute for Justice Court Judges. 4/10
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JUDGE STEVEN WALLACE |  | Judge Steven Wallace was appointed to the Orderville Justice Court in May 2010. He previously served as a county judge in Orlando, Florida, before retiring and moving to Utah in 2004. He holds a law degree from Florida State University. Judge Wallace served as chief assistant public defender in Florida's 20th Circuit, then served 11 years as a prosecutor in the 9th Circuit, the last seven years as chief assistant state attorney, before his appointment to the bench in 1988. Judge Wallace has authored many articles on the law and courts. 9/10 |
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