Robert Lund nominated as the new judge in the First District Court.
LOGAN — Utah Gov. Gary Herbert has selected a United States Attorney as the replacement for longtime 1st District Court Judge Thomas Willmore. The appointment of Robert Lund was announced in a press release Wednesday morning.
Lund currently serves as the National Security and Anti-Terrorism coordinator for the United States Attorney’s Office in Salt Lake. He has worked there since 2001. Previously, he served as the deputy prosecuting attorney for the Thurston County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office from 1994 to 2001.
Lund holds a J.D. from Brigham Young University’s J. Reuben Clark Law School and bachelor’s degrees in English and psychology from the University of Utah. He also taught at the S.J. Quinney College of Law as an adjunct professor of law from 2010 to 2017.
In Lund’s military legal experience, he served as the colonel, state staff judge advocate for 19 years. He received his military legal education from the University of Virginia, Judge Advocate General Law School.
Gov. Herbert said, “I am confident Robert Lund will be an exceptional addition to the First District court. He has a tremendous track record of service, not only to our nation, but also our local communities. His legal expertise will serve him well as he takes on this new role.”
Lund said, “I’d like to express my deepest gratitude to Governor Herbert for entrusting me with the solemn responsibility of safeguarding the rule of law in the First Judicial District. I pledge to uphold the oath office and to serve the community as a neutral and unbiased arbiter of law.”
Judge Willmore announced his retirement last September. He served for 21 years after being appointed to the 1st District Court in January 1999 by Gov. Michael Leavitt. He officially finished this month but will continue to preside over some cases as needed.
Lund’s appointment is subject to confirmation by the Utah Senate.
This is the 100th judge appointment by Gov. Herbert, during his 11 and a half years in office. The governor’s appointments now make up 75 percent of judges currently serving in Utah state courts.
Gov. Herbert said, “Making appointments to the bench is a great responsibility, and one I do not take lightly. I am consistently impressed by the high caliber of candidates I interview as part of the selection process, and I am grateful to the many qualified people who are willing to serve the people of Utah as judges.”
will@cvradio.com