Utah Supreme Court Justice Jill M. Pohlman faces a retention vote Nov. 3.

The nonpartisan question asks voters whether Pohlman should remain on the state's highest court. No opponents appear on the ballot. She has been certified for the ballot, according to BallotReady election data.

Utah Supreme Court justices do not run against opponents. Voters answer yes or no on whether to retain them.

Several other judicial retention races appear on the Nov. 3 ballot. The Bountiful-Farmington Record has also published profiles of Judge Jason Nelson, Judge Gregory Orme and Judge David Rawson.

Candidate information

  • Name: Jill M. Pohlman
  • Office sought: Utah Supreme Court Justice (retention)
  • Party: Nonpartisan
  • Born: April 8, 1973, in Ogden, Utah
  • Education: Bachelor's degree from the University of Utah (1993); juris doctor from the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law (1996), where she graduated Order of the Coif and served on the Utah Law Review
  • High school: Alta High School, Utah

Experience and public service

Governor Spencer Cox appointed Pohlman to the Utah Supreme Court on June 28, 2022, to fill the vacancy left by the retirement of Justice Thomas R. Lee, according to her Wikipedia biography. The Utah Senate unanimously confirmed her on Aug. 17, 2022. Her confirmation brought the court to a female majority.

She holds the title of associate chief justice, according to the Utah Courts website. Pohlman became acting chief justice on Aug. 31, according to her Wikipedia biography. The circumstances of that designation were not detailed in available records.

Before joining the Supreme Court, Pohlman served on the Utah Court of Appeals. Governor Gary Herbert appointed her to that bench in 2016, filling the seat vacated by the retirement of Judge James Davis.

Earlier in her career, Pohlman clerked for Judge David K. Winder of the United States District Court. She also worked as a law clerk and staff member at the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Utah, according to BallotReady profile data. She practiced as an attorney at Stoel Rives LLP.

Endorsements

The following organizations have endorsed Pohlman's retention, according to BallotReady, which credits each endorsement to the endorsing organization:

  • Women's Democratic Club of Utah
  • Teamsters Local 222 (Salt Lake City)
  • Better Boundaries

Candidate profile information was drawn from BallotReady election data, the Utah Courts website and Wikipedia.