Gov. Cox appoints Bryan J. Pattison and Jack B. Burns to the Fifth District Court

SALT LAKE CITY (April 16, 2026) - Utah Gov. Spencer J. Cox has appointed Bryan J. Pattison and Jack B. Burns to the Fifth District Court, filling vacancies created by the retirements of Judge John Walton and Judge Keith Barnes. Judicial appointments are subject to confirmation by the Utah Senate.

"Bryan Pattison is known for being thoughtful, prepared and deeply grounded in the law," said Gov. Cox. "He brings the kind of legal experience and steady judgment this role demands."

Pattison is a founding partner at Blanchard Pattison in St. George, where his practice focuses on civil litigation, appeals, government and land use law, and employment law. Before that, he spent nearly two decades at Durham Jones & Pinegar, where he served as chair of the firm's litigation section. He has briefed more than 30 appeals, presented more than 20 appellate oral arguments, and currently serves as the appeal authority for the Town of Springdale and Kane County. Pattison earned a bachelor's degree in business management from Westminster College and a juris doctorate, with distinction, from the University of Oklahoma College of Law.

"I am honored to be nominated by Governor Cox and to have the opportunity to serve the people of the Fifth District," Pattison said. "If confirmed, I will faithfully serve with impartiality, integrity, and a steadfast dedication to the rule of law."

Burns is an attorney and shareholder at Burns Law Office, P.C., in Cedar City, where he has managed a substantial caseload in both civil and criminal matters since 2006. He has represented clients in serious criminal proceedings, including bench and jury trials, and has also handled a wide range of civil litigation. Earlier in his career, Burns served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Brent J. Moss, worked as a prosecuting intern with the Henry County Attorney's Office, and interned with the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee. He earned a bachelor's degree in political science, with a minor in English literature, from Southern Utah University and a juris doctorate from the University of Iowa College of Law.

"Jack Burns has spent his career serving southern Utah with integrity and a clear respect for the law," said Gov. Cox. "He understands the people and communities of the Fifth District, and he will bring fairness and care to the bench."

"I am deeply grateful to Governor Cox for this appointment and humbled by the trust placed in me," Burns said. "I have great respect for the role of the judiciary and the responsibility it carries to decide cases fairly, impartially, and with integrity. Having grown up in Parowan and spent my career practicing law in southern Utah, it would be an honor to serve this region by working hard, listening carefully, and faithfully applying the law."

Headshot for Bryan J. Pattison is available here.

Headshot for Jack B. Burns is available here.