Sandy-area voters will decide Nov. 3 whether to retain Acting Chief Justice Jill M. Pohlman on the Utah Supreme Court. The nonpartisan retention question asks simply whether Pohlman should keep her seat.

Pohlman, an Alta High School graduate, was appointed to the court by Governor Spencer Cox on June 28, 2022, filling 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 Utah Supreme Court to a female majority.

Candidate information

  • Name: Jill M. Pohlman
  • Office: Utah Supreme Court (retention)
  • Born: April 8, 1973, in Ogden, Utah
  • Education: Bachelor's degree, University of Utah (1993); juris doctor, S.J. Quinney College of Law, University of Utah (1996). Graduated Order of the Coif and was a member of the Utah Law Review.
  • High school: Alta High School

Experience and public service

Pohlman has served as acting chief justice of the Utah Supreme Court since Aug. 31, 2026, according to her Wikipedia biography. She has held the title of associate chief justice since her 2022 appointment, according to the Utah Courts website.

Before joining the high court, she served as a judge on the Utah Court of Appeals from 2016 to 2022. Governor Gary Herbert appointed her in 2016. She filled the seat vacated by the retirement of Judge James Davis.

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

Endorsements

The following organizations have endorsed Pohlman's retention, as claimed by each endorser, according to BallotReady:

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

This profile was compiled from publicly available candidate information reviewed by Sandy Herald producers, including BallotReady election data, the Utah Courts website and Wikipedia. Sandy-area voters can also read our recent profiles of Judge Orme and Judge Mortensen, who face retention votes on the Utah Court of Appeals.