Justice Constandinos Himonas

Position: Associate Justice
Court: Utah Supreme Court
Years on Court: February 2015 – August 2024
Chief Justice: N/A
Appointed By: Governor Gary R. Herbert
Predecessor: Justice Ronald E. Nehring
Successor: Justice Maria Teresa Harper

Biography

Justice Constandinos H. Himonas served as an Associate Justice of the Utah Supreme Court from 2015 until his retirement in 2024. Appointed by Governor Gary R. Herbert, he brought to the Court decades of experience as both a trial judge and practicing attorney, along with a national reputation for advancing civility, professionalism, and improvements to the legal profession.

Justice Himonas earned his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Utah before receiving his Juris Doctor from the University of Chicago Law School. Following law school, he practiced civil litigation in Salt Lake City, where he developed an extensive trial practice involving commercial, employment, and complex civil matters.

In 1998, Governor Michael O. Leavitt appointed Himonas to Utah’s Third Judicial District Court, where he served for approximately seventeen years before joining the Utah Supreme Court. During his time as a district court judge, he presided over a wide variety of civil and criminal matters and earned recognition for his commitment to judicial excellence and courtroom professionalism.

Throughout his service on the Supreme Court, Justice Himonas became one of Utah’s strongest advocates for improving the legal profession. He frequently spoke and wrote on attorney well-being, civility, diversity within the profession, and increasing public confidence in the judiciary. After retiring from the Court in August 2024, he joined the faculty of the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law, where he continues to teach and mentor future lawyers.

Judicial Philosophy

Justice Himonas was widely regarded as a thoughtful, pragmatic jurist whose opinions emphasized:

• Fairness and practical application of the law
• Careful statutory interpretation
• Access to justice
• Civility and professionalism within the legal profession
• Clear guidance for trial courts

His opinions are noted for their readability, careful analysis, and focus on achieving workable legal standards. He frequently authored opinions involving civil procedure, constitutional law, criminal procedure, and family law.

Notable Family Law Opinions

Among Justice Himonas’s significant family law opinions are:

• Mackley v. Mackley, 2019 UT 17 — Property division and divorce.
• Scott v. Scott, 2020 UT 54 — Clarification of Utah’s cohabitation standard for termination of alimony.
• Rosser v. Rosser, 2021 UT 71 — Child custody modification.
• Heape v. Heape, 2021 UT 76 — Divorce and property division.
• Taylor v. Taylor, 2022 UT 35 — Judicial review of arbitration awards in divorce proceedings.
• Scott v. Benson, 2023 UT 4 — Parentage and de facto parent issues.
• In re Adoption of M.A., 2024 UT 11 — Adoption and parental rights.

Leadership and Service

During his judicial career, Justice Himonas:

• Served on the Utah Supreme Court Advisory Committee on the Rules of Civil Procedure.
• Championed attorney wellness and mental health initiatives.
• Promoted professionalism and civility throughout the Utah legal community.
• Frequently lectured nationally on judicial ethics, professionalism, and access to justice.
• Helped lead initiatives aimed at increasing diversity and inclusion within Utah’s legal profession.

Education

• University of Utah — Bachelor of Arts
• University of Chicago Law School — Juris Doctor

Professional Experience

• Civil Litigation Attorney, Salt Lake City
• Judge, Utah Third Judicial District Court (1998–2015)
• Associate Justice, Utah Supreme Court (2015–2024)
• Distinguished Professor of Law, University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law (2024–Present)

Legacy

Justice Constandinos H. Himonas is remembered as one of Utah’s foremost advocates for professionalism, civility, and attorney well-being. During nearly a decade on the Utah Supreme Court, he authored influential opinions across numerous areas of Utah law while helping shape modern family law, civil procedure, and constitutional jurisprudence. His lasting impact extends beyond his judicial opinions through his efforts to strengthen the legal profession, improve access to justice, and mentor future generations of lawyers and judges.