Shall Kelly G. Laws be retained in the office of Judge of the Blanding Justice Court?
What does this office do?
- Deciding traffic tickets and fines
- Deciding small claims cases
- Ruling on city code violations
Affects: Public Safety and Crime Control, Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties, Housing Affordability,
Kelly G. Laws
Nonpartisan · Incumbent · Official site
Kelly G. Laws has been the Blanding Justice Court judge since April 2023. A lifelong Blanding resident, he served 18 years on the Blanding City Council and 20 years on the San Juan County Transportation Special Service District, and worked 21 years as a Caterpillar field technician.
Track record
Track record — General
General · 9 records
Was nominated by Mayor Logan Monson as Blanding Justice Court judge, and the city council unanimously approved him on February 15, 2023. The other finalist still in the running was a sitting Grand County judge; Laws was a former city council member.
February 15, 2023
Source: sjrnews.com
Filed a lawsuit claiming San Juan County Commissioner Willie Grayeyes did not live in Utah and could not serve. A district judge ruled in January 2019 that Grayeyes was eligible. On September 30, 2021, the Utah Supreme Court threw out the case because Laws lacked legal standing to sue, but did not make him pay Grayeyes's legal fees.
September 30, 2021
Source: sjrnews.com
Moved to approve a pay increase for Blanding's elected officials (Ordinance 2015-3) on December 8, 2015. It passed 4-1.
December 8, 2015
Source: utah.gov
Moved for Blanding to join the Carbon Free Power Project, a planned small nuclear power plant led by the Utah power group UAMPS, at 6 megawatts on September 8, 2015. He argued the city would need new power as coal plants close. It passed 4-0.
September 8, 2015
Source: utah.gov
Cast the only vote against committing city tourism tax money as a grant match for a study of a proposed cultural center on July 28, 2015. He said the project was moving too fast without input from residents. It passed 4-1.
July 28, 2015
Source: utah.gov
Voted on July 14, 2015 to ask Blanding voters whether to renew a 0.1% sales tax that helps pay for the city Wellness Center and other recreation sites. It passed 3-1.
July 14, 2015
Source: utah.gov
Voted on June 23, 2015 to support putting a 0.25% local sales tax for roads and transportation before San Juan County voters. The council split 2-2, and the mayor broke the tie in favor.
June 23, 2015
Source: utah.gov
Moved to keep Blanding's property tax rate unchanged at .2475 on June 25, 2013, which passed 5-0. At the same meeting he voted for the city's 2013-14 budget, which passed 4-1.
June 25, 2013
Source: utah.gov
Moved to hire Silver Spur Construction for $1,039,881.50 to build the Blue Mountain water transmission pipeline, as a Blanding City Council member on April 9, 2013. The council approved it 5-0.
April 9, 2013
Source: utah.gov
Track record — Impartiality
Impartiality · 1 favorable
Received a 12-0 vote from the Utah Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission finding that he meets or exceeds its standards, in the report it shows voters for his 2026 retention question. The observer and nearly all of 13 people interviewed gave positive reviews, praising how he explained rights. One person criticized his communication and calendar management.
October 15, 2026Favorable on Impartiality
Source: judges.utah.gov
Track record — Legal Competence
Legal Competence · 1 favorable
Received a 12-0 vote from the Utah Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission finding that he meets or exceeds its standards, in the report it shows voters for his 2026 retention question. The observer and nearly all of 13 people interviewed gave positive reviews, praising how he explained rights. One person criticized his communication and calendar management.
October 15, 2026Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: judges.utah.gov
Source: vote.utah.gov