Shall Kelton Shawn Patten be retained in the office of Judge of the Utah County Justice Court?
What does this office do?
- Deciding trials in the county
- Ruling on evidence and setting sentences in criminal cases
- Deciding family, probate, and civil disputes
Affects: Public Safety and Crime Control, Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties, Housing Affordability,
Kelton Shawn Patten
Nonpartisan · Incumbent · Official site
Utah County Justice Court judge since January 2022. Before his appointment he spent over 17 years as a full-time public defender in Utah County courts, and earlier worked as a design engineering supervisor in Utah and Saudi Arabia.
Track record
Track record — General
General · 2 records
Was appointed judge of the Utah County Justice Court, as announced by the Utah County Judicial Nominating Commission on February 17, 2022. He replaced retired Judge Scott Cullimore after serving as a public defender in several Utah County courts.
February 17, 2022
Source: legacy.utcourts.gov
Was profiled by The Marshall Project on October 26, 2015 as a Utah public defender who handled about 800 misdemeanor cases a year in more than six courts. That was about twice the yearly caseload the American Bar Association recommends.
October 26, 2015
Source: themarshallproject.org
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. He passed all 5 minimum standards, including procedural fairness. The courtroom observer and all people interviewed gave him positive reviews.
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. He passed all 5 minimum standards, including procedural fairness. The courtroom observer and all people interviewed gave him positive reviews.
October 15, 2026Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: judges.utah.gov
Source: vote.utah.gov