Shall Christopher Gregory Bown be retained in the office of Judge of the Riverton Municipal 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,
Christopher Gregory Bown
Nonpartisan · Incumbent · Official site
Christopher G. Bown has been a Riverton Justice Court judge since 2023, after first joining the Taylorsville Justice Court bench in 2021. A University of Utah law graduate, he was a Salt Lake County deputy district attorney until 2013, then a criminal defense lawyer.
Track record
Track record — General
General · 3 records
Reported to the Taylorsville City Council on June 17, 2026, after about a year running the merged Taylorsville and West Jordan justice court. Over 12 months, 92% of traffic cases and 93% of criminal cases met the state's time goals, and all small claims cases did.
June 17, 2026
Source: utah.gov
Took office as the Riverton City Justice Court judge on February 7, 2023, after Mayor Trent Staggs appointed him and the city council confirmed him. He had served as the city's interim judge since August 2022 and kept his part-time Taylorsville judgeship.
February 7, 2023
Source: rivertonutah.gov
Was named the new Taylorsville Justice Court judge by the Salt Lake County Judicial Nominating Commission, in a court system announcement on July 6, 2021. He filled the seat left by Judge Michael Kwan, who died in 2020. He had spent 12 years as a Salt Lake County prosecutor and then worked as a defense lawyer and law firm partner.
July 6, 2021
Source: utah.gov
Track record — Impartiality
Impartiality · 1 favorable
Received a 13-0 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 8 minimum standards, and 95% of survey respondents recommended keeping him. All four courtroom observers said they would expect fair treatment.
October 15, 2026Favorable on Impartiality
Source: judges.utah.gov
Track record — Legal Competence
Legal Competence · 1 favorable
Received a 13-0 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 8 minimum standards, and 95% of survey respondents recommended keeping him. All four courtroom observers said they would expect fair treatment.
October 15, 2026Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: judges.utah.gov
Sources: vote.utah.gov · saltlakecounty.gov