First District Judge Thomas Willmore announces retirement

Judge Thomas L. Willmore presides over the arraignment of Jayzon Decker and Colter Peterson in 1st District Court on Thursday in Logan. Decker and Peterson are charged with attempted aggravated murder in the shooting of Deserae Turner.

LOGAN — After spending more than two decades on the bench and serving as the associate presiding judge in northern Utah, Judge Thomas L. Willmore has announced his retirement. He reportedly submitted his notice last week to Utah Supreme Court Chief Justice Matthew Durrant and Utah Governor Gary Herbert.

Utah State Court Communications Director Geoffrey Fattah confirmed that Judge Willmore will step off the bench February 16, 2020. His replacement will likely be announced in the beginning of the year, following a nomination process.

Presiding Judge Thomas Willmore conducting the ceremonial administration of the Oath of Office for Judge Kirk Morgan.

Judge Willmore was appointed to the First District Court in January 1999 by Governor Michael O. Leavitt. He has presided over several high-profile cases, including the murder trial for Heidi M. Rutchey, who was found guilty but mentally ill of killing her young son.

Judge Willmore graduated from Utah State University and received his law degree from the University of Pacific McGeorge School of Law. Before his appointment, he practiced law with Olson & Hoggan Law Firm.

Judge Willmore publicly announced his retirement in court Monday morning. Although he joked that few people would actually miss him, his absence from the bench will be greatly felt.

During the past 20 years, Judge Willmore has overseen cases in Cache, Box Elder and Rich counties. He has served as the presiding judge since 2006, while previously being the chair and member of the Board of District Court Judges from 2001-2006. He also was a part of the Supreme Court Advisory Committee on Rules of Criminal Procedure, and member of the Utah Access to Justice Council.

Judge Willmore established and presides over the First District Drug Court in Logan and Brigham City. He has been a strong proponent within the judiciary of drug rehabilitation and other judicial intervention programs for those struggling with substance abuse.


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8 Comments

  • Michelle Zook September 26, 2019 at 10:27 pm Reply

    I will really miss Judge Wilmore. He is the best and awesome judge I’ve ever ment. But also happy to hear that he put in a retirement plan. CONGRATS to Judge Wilmore.

  • Mandy September 27, 2019 at 5:08 am Reply

    Good luck judge willmore. Your a great and compassionate man that truly cares about people.

  • Safe September 27, 2019 at 10:11 am Reply

    This makes me sad as he was the only judge to give consequence in a domestic abuse case – the commissioner was absolutely disgusting in her handling of it. Hopefully a compassionate DV advocate steps in his place.

  • Steve thompson September 29, 2019 at 10:15 am Reply

    Thank you judge willmore for being so willing to try and change people with addiction you have really made a impact in my life and i want to say thanks and good Luck and enjoy your retirement thanks so much steve thompson

  • Jennifer Nelson November 3, 2019 at 1:33 am Reply

    Even though you scare the crap out of me I have a lot of respect and admiration for you. You will surely be missed. You are fair and honest man. Good luck to you and enjoy your retirement!

  • Geoff Goudy March 9, 2021 at 10:13 am Reply

    Mandy September 27, 2019 at 5:08 am
    “Your a great and compassionate man that truly cares about people.”
    I gave him evidence for proof that shows my wife Kidnapped my 5 kids because she believed a guy who she was doing bath salt and cheating on our family with she thought this guy had millions of dollars so to buy her time why waiting for this guy’s money, she went to Judge Willmore and Commissioner Christina Wilson lied to them both in a court of law signed her name under oath that her statement was truth even though it was false, they granted her a protective order and nobody was ever served in the first place for it I gave Thomas and Christine proof of my wife’s crimes and neither one of them cared about her crimes or her lies none of them had any compassion or gave a damn about my and I, my kids and I have done four years almost for this corrupt situation, I was defending my family because we were victims and Thomas wants to call me a liar while he defends a kidnapper a person who lied to him when she didn’t show any proof at all for her justification or reason for why she did what she did Thomas Wilmore had no remorse to the victims while he defended a criminal, he also made me leave the hearing without hearing a verdict or decision or an explanation as to why he made an illegal decision as he acted as a trespasser of the law, he didn’t care at all about truthfulness or the documents of proof that shows my wife’s Crimes she was and still is Committing, this Judge took my wife’s word over documented facts that’s backed up with dates and times, what a blatant abuse of power and neglect on the Court’s behalf.

    • J McCrohan July 3, 2021 at 8:08 am Reply

      There’s an army of people just like you here in Cache, Geoff. Let’s bring attention to the issue. I created a Twitter account for this purpose. Send me your grievances: @CacheJustice and let’s get better people into power.

  • Chrystina Bird May 8, 2022 at 11:13 am Reply

    I’m personal representative of my mother’s estate. RIP Mom. I encountered retired judge Thomas L. Willmore in September/October 2020 for my dear mother’s contested probate matter. He’d already retired; but was still hearing important cases, and causing significant damages. He was rude and forgetful. He disrespected me as personal representative and sole heir in my mother’s uncontested legally prepared will. He furthered false allegations against me that were already disproven with official police report evidence before the court. The judge actually yelled at me – for things he himself forgot – counsel had to correct him. Then he awarded estate funds to disinherited-by-name parties in the will. Insanity. I filed a successful Reconsideration to take back what was lost. The retired judge ignored the rule of law and there was zero recourse for me to file a complaint with JCC because he was already RETIRED. Today is Mother’s Day, 2022. I’m still grieving the death of my mother in Utah, where she’d never lived before getting Alzheimer’s, and the loss of her legally prepared legacy. It was a travesty, farce and sham at First District Court, Logan. Signed, Chrystina Bird

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