Obama nominates Salt Lake lawyer as federal judge

SALT LAKE CITY — President Barack Obama has nominated a Salt Lake lawyer to fill a vacancy on the federal bench in the U.S. District Court for Utah.

Robert J. Shelby is a shareholder at Snow, Christensen & Martineau where his practice focuses on complex commercial litigation and catastrophic personal injury cases on behalf of both plaintiffs and defendants in state, federal, and administrative courts throughout the country.  

A member of the defense team in the Olympic bribery case, Shelby also has experience in white-collar criminal defense, as well as medical malpractice defense, pharmaceutical liability and mass tort matters.

“A man of keen intellect, Robert Shelby is a strong choice to serve on the U.S. District Court," said Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah. "Throughout his legal career, he has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the law. I look forward to the Judiciary Committee evaluating his nomination.”

Shelby was a partner in the Salt Lake firm Burbridge Mitchell & Gross. He began his legal career as a law clerk to federal Judge J. Thomas Greene.  He received his law degree in 1998 from the University of Virginia and his bachelor's degree in 1994 from Utah State University.    

Shelby's nomination is subject to Senate approval.

 

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