From the 2026 Utah Voter Guide, for the November 3, 2026 general election. Kept as published, with results added.

Judicial Retention

Judge Kelton Shawn Patten

Court: Utah County Justice CourtCovers: UtahAppointed: 2022

Last updated November 4, 2026

How Utah County voted

Retained

Unofficial · as of November 4, 2026

Becomes official after the state canvass on November 23.

Yes: 79.1% · 71,906 votes
No: 20.9% · 19,001 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 KELTON SHAWN PATTEN be retained in the office of Judge of the Utah County Justice Court?”

A yes vote

keeps this judge on the bench for another term.

A no vote

removes this judge when the current term ends. The city or county that the court serves appoints a replacement.

State performance evaluation

State evaluation: Meets or exceeds standards

Commission vote

12–0

Survey respondents who would keep this judge

Not surveyed

Minimum standards passed

5 of 5

Read the full evaluation Where these scores come from

What this court does

Justice Courts are set up by cities and counties, not the state, and they handle lower-level cases like class B and C misdemeanors, small claims, traffic infractions, and violations of local ordinances. Their authority only covers the city or county that created them. Some justice court judges are appointed by county commissions, others by city officials, and some serve both. Judges don't have to be lawyers, but they must complete 30 hours of legal training every year to stay certified.