Four Attorneys Nominated to Replace Retiring Orem Justice Court Judge

Utah Courts released the names of four nominees on Friday, Nov. 6, 2026, to replace Orem City Justice Court Judge Reed Parkin, who is retiring next month. The Judicial Nominating Commission for Orem City picked the four after reviewing applications. A public comment period runs through Nov. 15. After that, the Orem city manager chooses one, the city council votes on whether to ratify the choice, and the Utah Judicial Council has to certify it before the new judge can serve.

This article lays out what the official notices say about the nominees, the steps still ahead, and how to weigh in. It sticks to what Utah Courts and the city have published. Where a detail is missing, it says so.

The four nominees

The Utah Courts notice, posted Nov. 6, lists the nominees alphabetically, each with the credential "J.D., Attorney at Law" and a city of residence:

• Craig Chambers, of Heber
• Misty Hope, of Vineyard
• Melanie Serassio, of Sandy
• Spencer Thomas, of Spanish Fork

That is all the notice gives. It does not include biographies, work histories, or the commission's reasons for choosing these four, and this article does not add to it. The Daily Herald, which reported the nominees the same day, listed the same four names and credentials.

The June vacancy notice, covered below, required applicants to live in Utah County or an adjacent county either when appointed or before taking the bench,.

Who is retiring

Utah Courts' notices say Judge Reed Parkin is retiring from the Orem Justice Court. The June 16, 2026 vacancy announcement said the seat opens when he retires at the end of the year. The Nov. 6 notice says the successful candidate will replace him "when he retires next month." A September meeting notice used the word "resigns" for the December departure. The official wording varies, but all three point to the same month.

How justice court judges are chosen

Under Utah Code 78A-7-202 (Justice court judges to be appointed), as reproduced by FindLaw in a copy current as of Jan. 1, 2025, the process runs through a local nominating commission and a local appointment. Check the Utah Legislature's site for the current text, since FindLaw notes its copy may not reflect the latest law.

The statute describes these steps:

1. A commission convenes. Each county has a commission that reviews applicants and recommends candidates. It meets when a new justice court judgeship is created or a vacancy occurs. It has six members: one appointed by the county commission, one appointed by the municipality's governing authority (or by a committee of mayors where a county has several municipalities), one appointed by the county bar association (or the regional or state bar when there is none), and two appointed by the governing authority of the jurisdiction where the judgeship sits. The first two members cannot be the appointing authority or an elected county or municipal official.
2. The vacancy is advertised. The opening must be posted on the Utah Courts website, emailed to Utah State Bar members, and published as a class A notice in the court's jurisdiction for at least 30 days.
3. The commission nominates. It generally sends at least three names to the appointing authority. If fewer than three qualified people apply, it sends all of them.
4. A local executive appoints. The local government executive, which for a city with a city manager is the city manager, picks one name from the list.
5. The local council ratifies. The local legislative body, here the city council, must ratify the appointment.
6. The state certifies. The selected person attends an orientation seminar run under the Judicial Council, and the Council then certifies the person as qualified. The appointment takes effect on certification, and the judge cannot perform judicial duties until then.

The statute also says the state court administrator staffs the commission and the Judicial Council sets its rules. The FindLaw copy does not cover term length or retention, which sit in other sections of the code, so this article does not describe them.

How Orem's vacancy followed that path

The Orem timeline, from Utah Courts notices:

The vacancy notice set the qualifications. Applicants had to be at least 25, a U.S. citizen, and a Utah resident for at least three years. They needed a law degree that makes them eligible for bar admission in any state, and they had to live in Utah County or an adjacent county, either at appointment or before taking the bench. The position was full time at $157,325 a year plus benefits, according to that June notice. Pay can change, so use the official posting for current numbers.

The June notice also said the commission would send at least three nominees to Orem City Manager Brenn Bybee within 45 days of its first meeting, and that he would then have 30 days to pick a finalist. The Nov. 6 notice mentions only the 30 days and does not say when the application materials go to him. Utah Courts or the city would have to confirm when the clock starts.

The Oct. 1 meeting began with a public comment portion from 4:15 to 4:30 p.m. on issues facing the Utah judiciary and ways to improve the system, then closed so members could review applications. That part of the process has already happened.

What happens next

Three approvals remain, in this order:

• City manager. Bybee selects a finalist from the four.
• City council. The Orem City Council has to ratify the choice. The notices do not say when it will take up the item. Council agendas are posted by the city, and our guide to following city council meetings explains the general approach to checking agendas, though that guide is written about Provo.
• Judicial Council. The Utah Judicial Council certifies the appointment.

The notices do not say how the court will cover cases if there is a gap between Parkin's departure and the new judge's certification. Check with the court if you have a hearing in December or January.

How to comment on the nominees

Utah Courts says a comment period will be held through Nov. 15, 2026. Written comments about the candidates go to James Peters, Justice Court Administrator, by email. The Daily Herald gave the address as jamesp@utcourts.gov. The Utah Courts page, however, shows a link and visible text that do not match cleanly, so confirm the address with Utah Courts before sending. Earlier Utah Courts releases on this vacancy also listed Peters as the contact for questions about the justice courts and the selection process, and gave a phone number of (801) 578-3824.

Comments go to the court administrator, not directly to the city manager. The notice does not say whether comments are public or how they are shared with the decision makers. If that matters to you, ask when you write.

What the Orem Justice Court handles

The city's Justice Court page lists traffic citations, criminal cases and small claims. Traffic matters include moving violations and vehicle equipment, insurance and registration violations. Jury trials are held about once a month, with jurors drawn from across Utah County.

The court is at 97 E Center St., Orem, UT 84057. The phone number is 801-724-3900, and the email is jcorem@utcourts.gov. The page says Spanish-language help is available through an online request form, with staff contacting people within one to two business days. It does not list court hours or the judges' names, so check the page before you go.

On fines and fees, the page says amounts follow the Uniform Fine/Bail Schedule, but a judge can set a different amount based on the facts of the case and the defendant's prior record. People who have not yet appeared before the judge and want to contest a citation are told to call the court to start the "Promise to Appear" process. Fix-it tickets can be dismissed by repairing the violation and giving the court proof.

Justice courts do not handle everything. Utah's district courts hear civil, domestic relations and probate cases. If your issue is a divorce or custody dispute, see our guide to family court in Utah County. For an overview of which court does what, see the Utah County courts guide.

Our jury duty guide covers county jury service. Anyone who needs a lawyer for a citation or a criminal charge can start with legal help in Utah County.

Other ways to follow the process

• Utah Courts news page. The Nov. 6 notice and the earlier vacancy and meeting notices are posted there.
• Orem city. The city posts council agendas and its Justice Court page at orem.gov.
• Utah County Clerk. For other local government and election questions, see our guide to the Utah County Clerk's office.

What we could not confirm

The notices do not say when application materials were or will be delivered to the city manager, when the city council will vote, or whether the nominees will appear at a public event. They also do not describe any nominee beyond name, city and the J.D. credential. We did not find the current statute text on the Legislature's own site, so the selection steps above come from the FindLaw copy and from the Utah Courts notices. Details can change, so check the official pages.