JULIE J. NELSON
Julie graduated from the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law in 2003. After law school, Julie clerked for three years at the Utah Supreme Court and four years at the Utah Court of Appeals. Julie practiced appellate law at a Salt Lake City appellate boutique for nine years before starting her own boutique firm specializing in family law appeals. She has been trained as an arbiter, mediator, and a private guardian ad litem. She serves on the Ethics and Discipline Committee of the Utah State Bar and the Legal Aid Society Board of Directors. She also serves as the Chair of the Family Law Executive Committee of the Utah State Bar. She is a AAA Consumer Arbitrations panelist and a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers.
In 2021, Julie Nelson was admitted to the roster of the American Arbitration Association’s Consumer Panel. As a law clerk for seven years, for four different judges on the Utah Supreme Court and the Utah Court of Appeals, she dealt with a wide scope of constitutional, statutory and common law issues, including employment, domestic, oil and gas, torts, medical malpractice, criminal, contract, property, and administrative law. As attorney and research assistant to an AAA arbitrator, she assisted with disputes involving constitutional takings; contract breaches, both domestic and international; wrongful franchise termination; intentional infliction of emotional distress; business torts; landlord-tenant disputes; arbitral division of $1.5 billion in assets of school district; interpretation of commercial insurance policy; claims of unfair trade practices and consumer fraud; and class action determinations. In her law practice, she deals with complex accounting issues and high-conflict matters in family law cases and has been the lawyer in over two dozen mediations.
CAREER
EXPERIENCE
Present
Founding Partner, Julie J. Nelson Law
AAA Consumer Arbitrator
2012-2021
Appellate Attorney, Zimmerman Booher
2003-2005, 2007-2012
Judicial Law Clerk for
Justice Ronald E. Nehring, Utah Supreme Court
Judge J. Frederic Voros, Jr., Utah Court of Appeals
Judge Pamela T. Greenwood, Utah Court of Appeals
Judge Judith M. Billings, Utah Court of Appeals
RECOGNITION
2023
Fellow, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
State of Utah Top 10 – National Academy of Family Law Attorneys
2021
Utah Education Association Honor Roll Award for service to education
2021
Legal Elite – Utah Business Magazine
2019-Present
Mountain States Super Lawyers
MEMBERSHIPS & COMMITTEES
June 2024 – Present
Chair, Utah State Bar Family Law Executive Committee
January 2024 – Present
Ethics and Discipline Committee
2023 – Present
American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
2022 – Present
American Bar Association
Association of Family and Conciliation Courts
2022 – 2023
Vice President, Utah State Bar Family Law Executive Committee
Family Law Journal
2019 – Present
Board Member, Utah State Bar Family Law Executive Committee
2019 – Present
Board Member, Legal Aid Society of Salt Lake
2019 – Present
Indigent Defense Commission Utah Appellate Roster – Child Welfare Appeals
2021 – 2023
Utah Supreme Court Advisory Committee on Rules of Professional Conduct
2017 – 2021
Utah Bar Diversion Committee
2015 – 2017
Women Lawyers of Utah, Various Committees
2003 – Present
Women Lawyers of Utah
Utah Bar Association
Salt Lake County Bar
REPRESENTATIVE CASES
Mintz v. Mintz, 2023 UT App 17, clarifying that alimony may include a regular savings expense even if not “uniformly systematic”
https://legacy.utcourts.gov/opinions/appopin/Mintz%20v.%20Mintz20230209_20200507_17.pdf
Rothwell v. Rothwell, 2023 UT App 50, successfully defending against numerous arguments attacking the court’s property distribution, touching on numerous distinct issues of Utah law
https://legacy.utcourts.gov/opinions/appopin/Rothwell%20v.%20Rothwell20230511_20210493_50.pdf
Clark v. Clark, 2023 UT App 111, clarifying that even if a party previously discloses evidence during discovery, that is not per se harmless when that party fails to timely make pretrial disclosures
https://legacy.utcourts.gov/opinions/appopin/Clark%20v.%20Clark20230928_20210713_111.pdf
Lobendahn v. Lobendahn, 2023 UT App 137, successfully defending against numerous arguments attacking the court’s custody determination and clarifying that a custody evaluation may be rejected for being outdated by, in this case, sixteen months
https://legacy.utcourts.gov/opinions/appopin/Lobendahn%20v.%20Lobendahn20231116_20210278_137.pdf
Clarke v. Clarke, 2023 UT App 160, successfully defending against numerous arguments attacking the court’s alimony determination and clarifying that parties are not obliged to update their pretrial disclosures as trial continues
https://legacy.utcourts.gov/opinions/appopin/Clarke%20v.%20Clarke20231229_20220067_160.pdf
Anderson v. Daggett School District, 2023 UT App 76, clarifying that when reviewing school district decisions to terminate a teacher’s employment, hearing officers are obliged to review the decision for proportionality and consistency
https://legacy.utcourts.gov/opinions/appopin/Anderson%20v.%20Daggett%20School%20District20230720_20210155_76.pdf
Blake v. Smith, 2023 UT App 78, clarifying that awards of sole legal custody and mandatory joint-decision making are incompatible because legal custody is the authority to make decisions about the child’s care and conduct
https://legacy.utcourts.gov/opinions/appopin/Blake%20v.%20Smith20230720_20210779_78.pdf
Knight v. Knight, 2023 UT App 86, clarifying that parties may have different marital expenses than each other, such as grooming, for the purposes of alimony
https://legacy.utcourts.gov/opinions/appopin/Knight%20v.%20Knight20230810_20210080_86.pdf
In re J.E., 2024 UT App 34, successfully appealing the termination of a frequently incarcerated father’s parental rights when the court relied too much on the increased stability the children may experience if adopted by their stepfather
https://legacy.utcourts.gov/opinions/appopin/In%20re%20Adoption%20of%20J.E…20240314_20230162_34.pdf
Bailey v. Bailey, 2024 UT App 51, clarifying (1) that in order to sanction a party under URCP 37—specifically, prohibiting a party from presenting his or her case—that party must first violate a court discovery order; and (2) that expert witnesses may not testify as fact witnesses when disclosed as neither as a workaround for failure to disclose
https://legacy.utcourts.gov/opinions/appopin/Bailey%20v.%20Bailey20240411_20220534_51.pdf
Tilleman v. Tilleman, 2024 UT App 54, clarifying that courts may not decline to impute an income the evidence shows a party can make solely because they are pursuing higher, rather than basic, education
https://legacy.utcourts.gov/opinions/appopin/Tilleman%20v.%20Tilleman20240411_20210637_54.pdf
In re A.G., 2022 UT App 126, clarifying that signature is required for voluntary relinquishment of parental rights
https://legacy.utcourts.gov/appopin/In%20re%20A.G…20221110_20210914_126.pdf
Knowles v. Knowles, 2022 UT App 47, clarifying alimony law and reversing trial court’s elimination of tithing as a marital expense
https://www.utcourts.gov/opinions/appopin/Knowles%20v.%20Knowles20220407_20200032_47.pdf
Wadsworth v. Wadsworth, 2022 UT App 28, addressing numerous complex financial issues
https://www.utcourts.gov/opinions/appopin/Wadsworth%20v.%20Wadsworth20220303_20190106_20200430_28.pdf
In re J.L., 2022 UT 12, reversing termination of parental rights, holding that juvenile court must consider the “particularized circumstances” of a family and whether permanent guardianship can protect and benefit children as well as termination
https://www.utcourts.gov/opinions/supopin/In%20re%20J.L…20220224.pdf
McQuarrie v. McQuarrie, 2021 UT 22, reversing court of appeals’ interpretation of decree regarding remarriage provision of alimony statute
https://www.utcourts.gov/opinions/supopin/McQuarrie%20v.%20McQuarrie20210617.pdf
Castro v. Lemus, 2019 UT 71; Olguin v. Anderton, 2019 UT 73; Mackley v. Openshaw, 2019 UT 74, winning three consolidated cases concerning paternity rights of biological fathers
https://www.utcourts.gov/opinions/supopin/Castro%20v.%20Lemus20191219_20180094_71.pdf
https://www.utcourts.gov/opinions/supopin/Olguin%20v.%20Anderton20191219_20180098_73.pdf
https://www.utcourts.gov/opinions/supopin/Mackley%20v.%20Openshaw20191219_20170001_74.pdf
In re Z.C.W., 2021 UT App 98 & In re C.C.W., 2019 UT App 34, twice reversing juvenile court’s application of termination statute in private termination petition
https://www.utcourts.gov/opinions/appopin/In%20re%20Z.C.W…20210923_20200039_98.pdf
https://www.utcourts.gov/opinions/appopin/In%20re%20C.C.W.20190307_20170360_34.pdf
Brown v. Brown, 2020 UT App 146, reversing district court determination of separate versus marital property
https://www.utcourts.gov/opinions/appopin/Brown%20v.%20Brown20201029_20190543_146.pdf
Hosking v. Chambers-Hosking, 2018 UT App 198, affirming district court determination that ex-wife was cohabiting
https://www.utcourts.gov/opinions/appopin/Hosking%20v.20Chambers20181012_20160444_193.pdf
Smith v. Smith, 2017 UT App 40, affirming district court property division and interpretation of trust document
https://www.utcourts.gov/opinions/appopin/Smith%20v.%20Smith20170302.pdf
Sawyer v. Workforce Services, 2015 UT 33, reversing Workforce Services’ determination regarding unemployment benefits for educator
https://www.utcourts.gov/opinions/supopin/Sawyer150206.pdf
EDUCATION
2003
University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law, J.D.
Staff Member, Utah Law Review
Traynor Moot Court
1999
University of Utah, Honors Bachelor of Arts, English
Phi Beta Kappa
Beehive Honor Society
PRESENTATIONS & PUBLICATIONS
2024
Arbitrating Your Clients’ Family Law Cases, Invited Speaker, Utah Fellows, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and the Family Law Section of the Utah Bar Thirty-third Annual David (“Sandy”) Dolowitz Utah AAML Seminar
How to Maximize the Benefits of Financial Expert Witnesses, Invited Speaker, Utah Fellows, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and the Family Law Section of the Utah Bar Thirty-third Annual David (“Sandy”) Dolowitz Utah AAML Seminar
We Find It Appealing!, Invited Speaker, Weber County Bar Association
Alimony Changes by the 2024 Legislature, Invited Speaker, Utah State Bar, Family Law Section
Case Law Update and Statutory Amendment Update, Annual Family Law Seminar, Invited Speaker, Utah State Bar, Family Law Section
Taylor and the Impact of Arbitration in Divorce Proceedings, Utah Bar Journal, Vol. 37, No. 3 (Co‑author with Bryant J. McConkie)
2023
Judge’s Case Law Update, Invited Speaker, Utah State Bar, Family Law Section
Child Welfare, Termination of Parental Rights, and “Strictly Necessary”, Invited Speaker, Utah State Bar, Family Law Section
How to Avoid Being “Hometowned” – Practicing Family Law in the Various Districts, Invited Speaker, Utah State Bar, Family Law Section
QDRO, Moderator, Utah State Bar, Family Law Section
Case Law Update, Annual Family Law Seminar, Invited Speaker, Utah State Bar, Family Law Section
Recent Updates & Lessons for Practicing Family Law in our Utah Courts, Annual Summer Convention, Moderator, Utah State Bar
Improving Oral Advocacy Skills, Moderator, Utah State Bar
Case Discussion: Anderson v. Daggett School District, Invited Speaker, Utah Employment Lawyer’s Association
2022
Panel Discussion on Arbitration and Taylor v. Taylor, 2022 UT 35, Invited Speaker, Utah Fellows, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and the Family Law Section of the Utah Bar Thirty-first Annual David (“Sandy”) Dolowitz Utah AAML Seminar
Taylor v. Taylor: Arbitrating Divorces, Invited Speaker, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and the Family Law Section of the Utah Bar
A Dialogue on Rule 26 Issues and Updates, 2022 Spring Virtual Convention, Invited Speaker, Utah State Bar, Family Law Section
Case Law Update, Annual Family Law Seminar, Invited Speaker, Utah State Bar, Family Law Section
Family Law and the Court of Appeals, Invited Speaker, Davis County Bar, Family Law Section
Post Decree Issues – Rule 60/Fraud, Motions to Enforce, and Modifications, Family Law Lunch & Learns for Judges, Invited Speaker, Utah State Bar, Family Law Section
Moderated Panel with Family Law Experts, Spring Judicial Conference, Invited Speaker, Utah State Bar, Family Law Section
Alimony – Need, Ability to Pay, Ways to Divide the Deficit, Faulty, Under Employment Burden, Spring Judicial Conference, Invited Speaker, Utah State Bar, Family Law Section
2021
Judges Panel: Preserving the Record on Appeal and the Importance of Sufficient Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, Invited Speaker, Utah Fellows, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and the Family Law Section of the Utah Bar Thirtieth Annual David (“Sandy”) Dolowitz Utah AAML Seminar
Case Law and Legislative Updates in Child Welfare and Delinquency Law, Invited Speaker, Utah State Bar, Juvenile Section
Annual Family Law Seminar, Invited Speaker, Utah State Bar, Family Law Section
Getting to Appeal III – Transitioning Civil Cases to Appeal, Invited Speaker, Utah State Bar, Appellate Practice Section
Getting to Appeal II – From Judgment to Appeal, Invited Speaker, Utah State Bar, Appellate Practice Section
Castro v. Lemus: Paternity on the ground after Castro v. Lemus, Invited Speaker, Utah State Bar, 2021 Spring Convention
2020
Case Law & Legislative Update, Invited Speaker, Utah State Bar, Family Law Section
Oral Arguments in Utah’s Appellate Courts during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Tips for argument by video conference, Invited Panelist, Utah State Bar, Appellate Practice Section
It’s Not Your Fault: A Look at Fault after Gardner v. Gardner, Invited Speaker, Utah State Bar, Family Law Section
2019
Preparing for Trial with a Strong Appeal: Special Considerations for Family Law and Child Welfare Practice, Invited Panelist, Utah State Bar, Family Law Section
Managing Your Career: Navigating Transitions, Invited Panelist, Utah State Bar, Women Lawyer’s Section
2016
Getting to Appeal, Invited Panelist, Utah State Bar, 2016 Spring Convention
2015
“Retiring: Justice Ronald E. Nehring,” Utah Bar Journal, Vol. 28, No. 1 (Co‑author with Noella A. Sudbury)
“Utah Appellate Law: Questions and Answers from the Clerk’s Office at the Utah Court of Appeals – Interview with Lisa Collins,” Utah Bar Journal, Vol. 28, No. 6
2014
“Appeals from Interlocutory Orders in the Utah Appellate Courts,” Utah Bar Journal, Vol. 27, No. 3
“Utah Appellate Law Update: Staying Enforcement of a Judgment During Post-Trial and Appellate Proceedings,” Utah Bar Journal, Vol. 27, No. 5 (Co-author with Clemens A. Landau)
COURT ADMISSIONS
United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
Supreme Court of Utah
United States District Court, District of Utah