JACEY SKINNER portrait
  • Adjunct Associate Professor, College Of Law - Dean

Biography

Jacey Skinner has held a variety of senior leadership roles in Utah state government. Before
joining Ballard Spahr, served as General Counsel to Utah Gov. Gary Herbert from 2013 to
2017. In that role, she negotiated legislation, oversaw the Governor's legislative review and
bill signing, coordinated litigation with the Attorney General's Office, advised the Governor,
his cabinet, and the Lieutenant Governor on legal, policy, and ethical issues, and oversaw
Gov. Herbert's judicial appointment process. She also served as the Deputy State Court
Administrator for the State of Utah, where she facilitated policy development and managed
relations with the state legislature, executive branch agencies, the Utah Judicial Council, and
the Utah Supreme Court.
 
Her experience includes serving as Director of the Utah Sentencing Commission and
President of the National Association of Sentencing Commissions, where she oversaw
sentencing guidelines, assisted with judicial appointments, and advised the legislature,
judiciary, and Governor's Office on sentencing policy. Jacey was a Deputy District Attorney
from 2003 to 2009 at the Salt Lake County District Attorney's office, where she tried both
felony and juvenile cases and oversaw policy development and advocacy as Vice Chair of the
Statewide Association of Prosecutors Legislative Action Committee.
 
Her expertise includes all areas of government related legal issues. She has extensive
experience in administrative and regulatory, and licensing issues, legislative affairs,
procurement matters, OPMA, GRAMA, advising boards and commissions, and Utah policy.