From the 2026 Utah Voter Guide, for the November 3, 2026 general election. Kept as published, with results added.
All 2026 items →Judicial Retention
Judge Douglas John Nielsen
Court: Fourth District Juvenile CourtCovers: Juab, Millard, Utah and Wasatch countiesAppointed: 2016
Last updated
How the Fourth Judicial District voted
Retained
Unofficial · as of November 4, 2026
Becomes official after the state canvass on November 23.
- Yes
- 80.0% · 84,503 votes
- No
- 20.0% · 21,070 votes
Needs more yes than no votes to be retained. Source: election results (opens in a new tab)
How it reads on your ballot
“Shall DOUGLAS JOHN NIELSEN be retained in the office of Judge of the District Court of the Fourth Judicial District?”
A yes vote
keeps this judge on the bench for another term.
A no vote
removes this judge when the current term ends. The governor appoints a replacement, confirmed by the Utah Senate.
State performance evaluation
State evaluation: Meets or exceeds standardsCommission vote
12–0
Survey respondents who would keep this judge
100%
Minimum standards passed
8 of 8
What this court does
Utah's Juvenile Court has 33 judges across the state's eight judicial districts. It ranks equally with the District Court, not below it.
This court mainly handles cases involving young people under 18, including kids accused of breaking the law and children who are abused, neglected, or without proper care. Judges can decide child custody, support, and visitation in some cases, terminate parental rights, and order treatment for kids with mental illness or disabilities. The court can also place kids on probation, in foster care, or in group or treatment homes.
The Juvenile Court also has sole authority over certain traffic-related offenses committed by minors, like DUI or reckless driving, and it runs its own probation department to supervise youth and track their progress. Appeals from Juvenile Court decisions go to the Court of Appeals.