Second Judicial District - District Court Judge
Honorable Nancy E. Rice
Retention Year: 1990
Recommendation: Retain
Judicial Performance Commission’s recommendation: Should Be Retained.
Judge Rice was admitted to the bar in 1975. She graduated from Tufts University in 1972, and her major was in political science. In 1975 she graduated from the University of Utah, where she received her law degree.
Prior to her judicial appointment she was a law clerk for Chief U.S. District Judge Fred M. Winner from June 1975 to September 1976. From October 1976 to October 1977, she was a deputy state public defender. From October 1977 to December 1987, she was an assistant U.S. attorney; from December 1985 to December 1987, she was the deputy chief, civil division, office of the U.S. attorney.
Rice received her judicial appointment Jan. 22, 1988. She began hearing domestic relations cases in 1988, and since 1989 has been assigned to civil cases.
Rice enjoys being a judge. She especially likes the challenge and hard work. She has about 500 cases at all times but has kept on top of her docket, so her caseload is under control and handled expediently.
The commission received results from questionnaires filled out mainly by attorneys, litigants and jurors. Rice received very high marks from these groups. She doesn’t discriminate with respect to race or gender. Her courtesy, conduct, legal reasoning and sense of justice all received high marks. Rice’s overall rating for retention was very high from respondents.