Position: Associate Justice (later Associate Chief Justice)
Court: Utah Supreme Court
Years on Court: January 29, 2016 – December 1, 2025
Associate Chief Justice: July 2022 – December 1, 2025
Appointed By: Governor Gary R. Herbert
Predecessor: Justice Jill N. Parrish
Successor: Justice John Nielsen

Biography

Justice John A. Pearce served on the Utah Supreme Court from 2016 to 2025, including more than three years as Associate Chief Justice. Prior to joining the Supreme Court, he served on the Utah Court of Appeals and as General Counsel to Governor Gary R. Herbert, giving him extensive experience in all three branches of state government.

Born and raised in Magna, Utah, Justice Pearce graduated from Cyprus High School before earning a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the University of Utah. He received his Juris Doctor from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law. After law school, he practiced commercial litigation with Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati before becoming a shareholder at Jones Waldo Holbrook & McDonough. He later served as General Counsel to Governor Herbert from 2009 to 2013, advising the Governor on constitutional, legislative, and administrative matters.

In 2013, Governor Herbert appointed Pearce to the Utah Court of Appeals. Two years later, following Justice Jill Parrish’s appointment to the federal bench, Governor Herbert selected Pearce to serve on the Utah Supreme Court. He was unanimously confirmed by the Utah Senate and took office on January 29, 2016. His colleagues elected him Associate Chief Justice in 2022.

Justice Pearce announced his retirement in 2025 after sixteen years of public service in Utah state government. During his tenure, he became known for thoughtful statutory analysis, careful appellate writing, and leadership within Utah’s judiciary.

Judicial Philosophy

Justice Pearce is widely regarded as a careful and scholarly jurist whose opinions emphasize:

• Textual statutory interpretation
• Careful constitutional analysis
• Respect for precedent
• Judicial restraint
• Clear and practical appellate guidance

His opinions are known for their organization, analytical precision, and readability. Attorneys and judges have consistently recognized his fairness, diligence, integrity, and well-written opinions.

Notable Family Law Opinions

Among Justice Pearce’s significant family law opinions are:

• Taylor v. Taylor, 2022 UT 35 — Judicial review of arbitration awards in divorce proceedings.
• Rosser v. Rosser, 2021 UT 71 — Divorce and contempt.
• In re B.T.B., 2020 UT 60 — Termination of parental rights and the “strictly necessary” standard.
• Scott v. Scott, 2020 UT 54 — Clarification of Utah’s cohabitation standard for alimony.
• Gardner v. Gardner, 2019 UT 61 — Alimony and divorce.
• Mackley v. Openshaw, 2019 UT 74 — Parentage.
• Olguin v. Anderton, 2019 UT 73 — Parentage.
• Castro v. Lemus, 2019 UT 71 — Utah Uniform Parentage Act.
• Hinkle v. Jacobsen, 2019 UT 72 — Parentage.

Leadership and Service

During his judicial career, Justice Pearce:

• Served as Associate Justice of the Utah Supreme Court (2016–2025).
• Served as Associate Chief Justice (2022–2025).
• Served on the Utah Court of Appeals.
• Served as General Counsel to Governor Gary R. Herbert.
• Taught as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law.
• Participated in numerous judicial education and appellate practice initiatives.

Education

• University of Utah — Bachelor of Science, Economics
• University of California, Berkeley School of Law — Juris Doctor

Professional Experience

• Associate, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
• Shareholder, Jones Waldo Holbrook & McDonough
• General Counsel, Office of Governor Gary R. Herbert (2009–2013)
• Judge, Utah Court of Appeals (2013–2016)
• Associate Justice, Utah Supreme Court (2016–2025)
• Associate Chief Justice, Utah Supreme Court (2022–2025)
• Adjunct Professor, University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law

Legacy

Justice John A. Pearce is remembered for his thoughtful appellate jurisprudence, exceptional legal writing, and leadership on the Utah Supreme Court. His opinions significantly influenced Utah family law, particularly in the areas of parentage, divorce, alimony, adoption, and termination of parental rights. Beyond his judicial opinions, his service in the executive, appellate, and supreme courts gave him a unique perspective that helped shape modern Utah jurisprudence.