Salt Lake County District Attorney: Sim Gill and Shawn Robinson
A look at the two candidates competing in the Democratic Primary for Salt Lake County District Attorney.
About this position
The Salt Lake County District Attorney is the county’s chief prosecutor and legal advisor to county government and law enforcement agencies.
The office prosecutes felony crimes, oversees major criminal investigations, and plays a significant role in shaping public safety, criminal justice, victim services, and diversion policies throughout the county. As Salt Lake County is by far the largest county in the state, this DA’s office is one of the largest criminal prosecution offices in Utah.
This is a Democratic primary, which is open to all voters. Any registered voter in Salt Lake County—affiliated with any party—can request a ballot to be mailed to them (until June 12), or go in-person to vote during early voting and on Election Day.
Find info about Salt Lake County elections.
Candidates
Find the values and attributes we’re looking for in candidates. We view this guide as a starting point. We recommend you read their websites, watch debates, attend events, or simply reach out to the candidates directly to learn more about their issues and experience.
When possible, top priorities come from candidates’ official websites.
Sim Gill
About: Raised in Kearns, Mr. Gill has served as District Attorney for Salt Lake County since 2010. In addition to earning degrees from the University of Utah and Lewis & Clark Law School, he served as Salt Lake City’s Chief Prosecutor before being elected District Attorney.
During more than three decades as a prosecutor, he’s handled major criminal cases, pursued public-corruption investigations, and become a nationally-recognized advocate for therapeutic justice and diversion programs.
Top priorities (from campaign materials): Expanding mental health and behavioral health interventions; therapeutic justice and treatment programs; reducing recidivism while maintaining public safety, etc.
Insights: Mr. Gill has overseen the Salt Lake County Attorney General’s office for sixteen years. dDuring that time he’s advocated for therapeutic justice programs, including mental health courts, veterans programs, pre-filing diversion initiatives, and more. Supporters point to his reform-minded approach and his efforts to address the causes of crime rather than relying solely on incarceration.
His tenure has also been marked by controversy. Critics argue that the office could benefit from greater accountability, transparency, and organizational change after sixteen years under the same leadership. Public debate around Mr. Gill has often been intense, with criticism coming at different times from both law-enforcement voices and police-reform advocates. While opinions vary widely, few dispute that Gill has significantly shaped the county’s criminal justice system over the past decade and a half.
Shawn Robinson
About: Salt Lake County resident for approximately 30 years, trial attorney for more than 30 years, public defender for several Utah cities for over two decades. Mr. Robinson is currently an Assistant Attorney General prosecuting white-collar financial crime. Mr. Robinson was also a partner at Cook, Skeen & Robinson for 25 years, handling commercial litigation, criminal defense, and civil matters.
Top priorities (from campaign materials): Fully staffing the District Attorney’s office; improving transparency and accountability; expanding victim advocacy services; improving office morale and management.
Insights: Mr. Robinson brings an unusual combination of criminal defense, civil litigation, and white-collar crime prosecution. This work often requires navigating complex investigations involving fraud, financial misconduct, and coordination among multiple agencies. Supporters argue that this breadth of experience has prepared him to manage a large prosecutor’s office while bringing a balanced perspective to criminal justice issues.
His legal peers have awarded him one of the profession’s highest ratings for legal ability and ethical standards, Martindale-Hubbell’s AV Preeminent rating, He has also been recognized multiple times by Utah Business Magazine’s Legal Elite program.
Robinson’s campaign has focused on office management, transparency, accountability, staffing, and victim communication, arguing that the District Attorney’s office has become understaffed and overworked and that victims deserve more information and engagement throughout the prosecutorial process.
Our recommendation
We recommend voters seriously consider Shawn Robinson in the Democratic primary for Salt Lake County Attorney. While Mr. Gill deserves credit for years of experience and effort in expanding therapeutic justice, we believe it’s time for a change. Mr. Robinson offers fresh and ethical leadership for the next chapter of Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office.
Mr. Robinson’s emphasis on transparency, accountability, victim communication, and effective management address real concerns. We note that Mr. Robinson received more delegate support than his opponent at the Salt Lake County Democratic Convention, which suggests that many active Democratic voters are interested in new leadership.
What’s next:
The winner of the Democratic primary will face Republican Kent Davis in the November general election.
Make sure to return your ballot before June 23—and much earlier if by mail—to any Salt Lake County official dropbox.