Judge Michele M. Christiansen Forster was appointed to the Utah Court of Appeals in June 2010 by Gov. Gary Herbert. Prior to her appointment, Judge Christiansen Forster had been serving as a Third District Court Judge since May 2007.
Judge Christiansen Forster received her law degree from the University of Utah College of Law in 1995. She then served as a judicial law clerk for one year with the Honorable Tena Campbell, United States District Court Judge for the District of Utah, following which she joined the Salt Lake law firm of Parsons Behle & Latimer.
In March 1998, Judge Christiansen Forster joined the United States Attorney's Office, District of Utah, as an Assistant United States Attorney. In January 2005, she was appointed executive director of the Utah Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice and in July of 2006, Judge Christiansen Forster became general counsel to Gov. Jon M. Huntsman, Jr. During her tenure in the Governor's Office, Judge Christiansen Forster co-chaired the Utah Methamphetamine Joint Task Force and chaired the Utah Sexual Violence Council. Huntsman appointed Forster a Third Judicial District Court judge in May 2007.[4] Her docket was about 85 percent criminal cases and 15 percent civil cases.[5] For 18 months, she presided over a mental health court, a specialty court in which members of the defense, the prosecution and medical providers work as a team to resolve and deal with criminal defendants that suffer from mental health problems.
When Huntsman left the governorship in 2009 to be the United States Ambassador to China, Huntsman chose Forster to swear him in.[11] Governor Gary Herbert appointed Forster to the Utah Court of Appeals in May 2010. She was unanimously confirmed by the Utah State Senate in June 2010.
She served as a member of the Guardian Ad Litem Oversight Panel, the Utah Sentencing Commission Executive Committee, the Utah Substance Abuse and Anti-Violence Coordinating Council, the Governor's Violence Against Women and Families Cabinet Council, the Initiative on Utah Children in Foster Care, and the Access to Justice Council.
Judge Christiansen Forster is an adjunct professor at the University of Utah S. J. Quinney College of Law, and currently serves as Co-chair of the Utah State Bar's Pro Bono Commission and on the Salt Lake County Bar Association Executive Committee. The judge is the past-president of the David K. Watkiss-Sutherland II Inn of Court, and previously served on the Executive Board of Women Lawyers of Utah, the Judicial Council's Ethics Advisory Opinion Committee, and as the chair of the Judicial Council's Commissioner Conduct Committee. 8/20 My name is Tiara Auxier and I am deeply proud to call Utah home. From a young age, I’ve been a passionate student of history, government, and the enduring qualities of our beloved country. Understanding our past has made me even more committed to our nation’s foundational values—values like hard work, integrity, and personal responsibility. We must continue to honor the sacrifice and vision of those who came before us.
After earning my B.A. in Accounting, I worked as a tax accountant before choosing to dedicate my time to raising a family with my wonderful husband. My professional experience solidified my belief that public funds must be treated with the utmost respect. I oppose wasteful spending and unnecessary tax increases. Utah deserves leaders who plan for the future, safeguard resources, and make fiscally responsible decisions.
As a devoted wife and mother with a lifelong passion for learning, education is so important to me. For the past several years I’ve served on District & School Community Councils in Salt Lake and Morgan counties, advocating for parents' rights to shape their children’s education and ensure curriculum decisions reflect our community values. During this time I have seen firsthand how many critical decisions are dictated at the state level. That realization is what has inspired me to step forward and seek a greater role to make a difference where it matters most.
I am serving to protect our state, our communities, and our families. The future depends on leaders with a strong voice who are willing to stand firm for conservative values, and protect the freedom to practice and live our religious beliefs. I will continue to stand up for what’s right, even when it’s unpopular, and feel honored to continue my family’s tradition of patriotism and public service in Utah. Together, we can preserve what makes our state and nation exceptional.
No comments:
Post a Comment