Judge McCully retires from the Juvenile Court

September 13, 2010

Utah: Judge Sharon P. McCully retired from the Utah Third Judicial District on September 10, 2010, after 27 years on the bench. She was first appointed to this court by Gov. Matheson in 1983. At 29-years-old, she was the youngest person appointed to a judgeship. She is known for bringing reform to the Utah juvenile court system and was a longtime member (and President in 2004-05) of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges. Examples of her reform efforts include the Child Welfare Reform Act of 1994 and the Delinquency Model Court pilot project in 2008.

McCully would have faced a retention election later this year, but decided it was time to retire. Regarding her reasons, she pointed to the emotionally trying nature of the job. “It wasn’t any one particular case but you just want these kids and their families to get better and most of them do. But the ones that don’t just started going home with me a lot more than they ever did before. I would find myself lying in bed worrying about these kids.”

McCully is a graduate of the University of Utah's College of Law. Prior her judicial appointment, she worked in the Utah Attorney General’s Office. She will continue to serve the court as-needed as a senior judge.