As a high schooler, Justice Stephen Dent (JD ’14) recalls being very interested in the Constitution and the way the U.S. government works. When a lawyer helped Dent’s family through a difficult time—and when Dent worked for a law firm as an undergraduate—he realized he wanted to set his sights on a career in law.
“I was raised by a single mom, and we had a lawyer who stepped in and volunteered his time and efforts to help my family through a tough spot. I saw a lawyer making a difference for people. Then, in college, I worked for a law firm full of decent, kind people. Those experiences solidified my belief that you can have an interesting career in law while still being a good person,” Dent says. “The combination of being interested in the law, the government, and the Constitution and then also seeing the real-world effect lawyers can have on people is what inspired me.”
After graduating from Brigham Young University with his bachelor’s degree in political science, Dent began evaluating law schools and felt a pull to return to his hometown of Salt Lake City.
“I visited the law school, and it had a really welcoming tone. The professors were nice, and the students were helpful and collaborative. The small class sizes and the fact that it was in Salt Lake City—really close to the legal community downtown—were all driving factors in my decision to attend Utah Law,” he says.
Dent recalls playing ping pong in the basement of the old law building and making connections with classmates and professors who helped through both the good times and the tough times.
“Law school for me felt like another level of intellectual rigor as I worked hard to learn the law. I participated in Traynor Moot Court with a great partner, Jeremy Christiansen, and it was fun to go through the process and be an advocate,” he says. “Jeremy won Best Oralist, and we won the competition. We had the opportunity to participate in National Moot Court and compete in Colorado and New York City, furthering those skills and continuing to represent the school.”
While still at Utah Law, Dent interned for U.S. District Court Judge Robert Shelby. He continued clerking for Judge Shelby after graduating and taking the Bar before taking a second clerkship with Judge Scott Matheson Jr. of the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. Dent then moved to Washington, D.C., to work at Gibson Dunn & Crutcher on complex commercial litigation, appellate work, and white-collar defense.
“I worked with talented, hard-working attorneys representing sophisticated clients on important matters. My time at the firm taught me the importance of relentless effort on behalf of clients. I worked on cases in courts throughout the country, including the U.S. Supreme Court,” Dent recalls. “My wife is from Maryland, so we were able to live close to family there. I enjoyed living in the D.C. area and working at the firm.”
Most recently, Dent was working as assistant U.S. attorney and deputy criminal chief in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah, based in St. George.
“I prosecuted federal crimes across the state, mostly focused in Southern Utah, but I had a number of cases in Salt Lake as well, everything from fraud to drug trafficking, to violent offenses like homicide and robberies, to immigration offenses,” he says. “It’s a profound responsibility to stand up in court and advocate on behalf of a crime victim. I’m proud of my work serving the public and trying to make our state a safer place.”
Becoming a Utah Supreme Court justice
Following a rigorous interview process with the judicial nominating committee, governor, lieutenant governor, and their staff, Dent was appointed by Utah Gov. Spencer Cox to the Utah Supreme Court in June 2026 and confirmed by the Senate a few weeks later.
“I value public service, and I love the state of Utah. When the opportunity came to apply, I thought it would be an incredible chance to meaningfully serve,” Dent says. “I respect and admire our state court system, including the justices, and I’m so honored to count myself among them, to learn from them, and to be able to serve the people of Utah by their side.”
The best advice Dent received about the nominating process came from Judge David Nuffer, a federal district court judge in St. George.
“He said, ‘When you’re applying for a judgeship, don’t believe anything—and never give up.’ I took that as keep trying, don’t doubt yourself, and don’t be overly confident. Just keep trying, preparing, and doing your best,” Dent says. “I was very grateful when I was a finalist, when I got the interviews, and when I got selected. Throughout the process, I tried to follow the advice to keep trying, keep believing in yourself, and stay humble.”
He looks forward to serving the people of Utah as a Utah Supreme Court justice.
“I love being a lawyer and part of the legal profession and the intellectual challenge that comes with it. It’s always an honor to be able to serve the public and to do so in a meaningful way. I’m excited to work with my colleagues at the Supreme Court, who are talented, dedicated public servants,” he says.