Water Judges and Decisions
The following opinions were issued by district court judges designated to hear water cases and are published on this site periodically pursuant to Rule 6-104 of the Code of Judicial Administration.
View Opinions of First Impression
Water Judges
| Water Judge | District |
| Judge Angela Fonnesbeck | First District |
| Judge Jennifer Valencia (Supervising Water Judge) | Second District |
| Judge Blaine Rawson | Second District |
| Judge Laura Scott | Third District |
| Judge Patrick Corum | Third District |
| Judge Kent Holmberg | Third District |
| Judge Kraig Powell | Fourth District |
| Judge Gregory Lamb | Eighth District |
Case Eligibility for Transfer Under UCJA 6-104 and Transfer Process
Cases filed under Utah Code Title 73, Chapter 3 or 4 are eligible for reassignment to a water judge under UCJA 6-104. A party to such a case may request reassignment as part of the complaint or first responsive pleading, and the case will be assigned to a water judge. A party may request reassignment after this time formally or during a status conference; whether to grant this request will be at the discretion of the assigned judge.
Cases NOT filed under Title 73, Chapter 3 or 4 may still be eligible for reassignment if the supervising water judge determines that the case involves sufficiently complex issues related to water law. This must extend beyond cases with facts involving water; the legal issues must relate to water law. A party may request reassignment either as part of the complaint or first responsive pleading, or after this time may make a request formally or during a status conference. The case must be reviewed and approved by the supervising water judge before transfer is ordered. A party may oppose a request for assignment to a water judge, it is in the discretion of the assigned judge to make a decision on this.
If a request is made on an eligible case, the assigned judge will issue an order assigning the case to a water judge and the case will be assigned to a water judge through a randomized process.
Important Notes
A water case may be assigned to a water judge sitting in a different district than that in which the case sits, however, case transfer will not impact venue in any way; the case will remain in the original district – the assigned water judge, if sitting in a different district, will travel to the venue in which the case sits as needed; and the case number will remain the same.
For more information on reassignment under UCJA 6-104, contact Meredith Mannebach, Deputy District Court Administrator, meredithm@utcourts.gov.