Salt Lake City Appointed New Justice Court Judge
Mayor Erin Mendenhall named Nick Stiles to fill the first new judicial seat in over two decades.
Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Criminal Justice
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Mayor Erin Mendenhall has appointed Nick Stiles as the sixth judge for the Salt Lake City Justice Court. The Salt Lake City Council approved the appointment on September 22, 2026, marking the first time a new judgeship has been added in more than two decades.
Why it matters
The addition of a sixth judge aims to increase capacity for the court, which handles class B and C misdemeanors, traffic citations, and small claims. The move follows a study by the Utah Administrative Office of the Courts indicating that the current caseload required additional judicial oversight.
The city council approved the new position in December 2025 after a study suggested the court required more than six judges to manage volume. Five candidates were initially forwarded to the mayor for final selection.
The players
Erin Mendenhall
She is the current Mayor of Salt Lake City who holds the authority to appoint municipal judges.
Nick Stiles
He is the administrator for the Utah Supreme Court and the Utah Court of Appeals who was recently appointed as a city judge.
Salt Lake City Council
This is the legislative body responsible for overseeing municipal appointments and city budgetary decisions.
The details
Nick Stiles, who currently serves as the administrator for both the Utah Supreme Court and the Utah Court of Appeals, was selected from a pool of five candidates. The Salt Lake City Justice Court system manages a high volume of infractions and legal disputes that necessitated this expansion of judicial resources.
Timeline
The city approved the sixth judge position in December 2025.
The City Council approved the appointment of Nick Stiles on September 22, 2026.
Legal Context
The expansion reflects a growing trend in municipal governance to realign judicial capacity with rising case volumes as suggested by the Utah Administrative Office of the Courts caseload study. This shift marks a departure from two decades of static judicial staffing levels within the Salt Lake City Justice Court.
Residents and local businesses may see improved court efficiency and potentially faster processing times for small claims and traffic citations. The addition of the sixth judge is intended to alleviate backlogs and improve the management of class B and C misdemeanor cases.
The takeaway
The appointment represents a significant administrative update intended to better manage the citys legal workload. Efficiency in municipal courts remains a critical component for ensuring timely justice in traffic and misdemeanor proceedings.
Further reading
For more information on the local legal system, visit the Criminal Justice page.
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