Bluffdale City Council confirms new judge

 After a lifetime in law enforcement, Scott Mickelsen is trading in the title of captain for that of judge. Mickelsen was appointed as the new judge for the Bluffdale Justice Court by Mayor Derk Timothy and his appointment was confirmed by the city council. He was sworn in on Aug. 1.

 Mickelsen is a 36-year veteran of law enforcement. He earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in criminal justice from Weber State University and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy. He has served as an adjunct professor at two Utah universities, teaching ethics, management and other courses.

 “He not only has a good education, but he is street smart,” Timothy said. “He has years of experience and still has such a good outlook on people that impressed me.”

 Mickelsen has worked for what is now the Unified Police Department for 32 years, and for Sandy City for four years. Within the department, he has served as a division commander in patrol, court security and administrative support, among many other assignments and special projects. He is also a former hostage negotiator with expertise in conflict resolution.

 During his career in law enforcement, Mickelsen created “Officer Friendly” programs for elementary school curriculums and also taught criminal justice in area high schools.

 As Mickelsen prepared for retirement from the police force, the desire to continue serving in the community led him to apply for the judicial position.

 “This is the next logical step in my career, allowing me to use my experience, education and hard-won common sense to resolve both civil and criminal issues for the citizens we serve,” he said.

Mickelsen looks forward to developing a long-term relationship with Bluffdale as a judge.

“That was important to me,” Timothy said. “Spending a lot of time here will help him be a fair judge for our residents by really getting to know the area.”

 As a police officer, Mickelsen appreciated the time he spent in the south end of the valley, and he feels at home accepting this position in Bluffdale.

 “I love the area and have enjoyed the people in Bluffdale,” he said. “They are good, honest people, and I look forward to serving them in this capacity.”

 Mickelsen is a lifetime resident of Draper, where he lives with his wife Enid. He is the father of four and grandfather of two.

 As a part-time judge, he will typically hear cases in the Bluffdale Justice Court on Wednesday afternoons from 1 to 5 p.m.

 Mickelsen will handle Class B and C misdemeanors and infractions.  These include domestic violence issues, DUIs and most traffic offenses.  More serious Class A misdemeanors and felonies are handled in the district court.

 Mickelsen is replacing Judge Darwin Poulsen who is retiring.