R. BLAKEHAMILTONShareholderSalt Lake City

Email: bhamilton@djplaw.com

Main: 801.415.3000 | 801.297.1419

PRACTICE AREAS

• Governmental Entity Defense

• Healthcare Law

• Litigation

• Appeals

• Commercial Litigation

• Criminal Defense

ADMITTED TO PRACTICE

• United States Court of Appeals

for the Ninth Circuit

• United States Court of Appeals

for the Tenth Circuit

• United States District Court,

District of Utah

• Utah

R. Blake Hamilton’s primary practice areas are civil rights litigation and

governmental entity defense. He has represented governmental entities and

their employees through the Utah Local Government Trust, Utah Counties

Insurance Pool, Utah Risk Management Mutual Association, Utah Highway Patrol

Association, and Professional Law Enforcement Association. He also serves as

general counsel for the Utah Peace Officers Association and the National Institute

of Jail Operations, as well as conflict counsel for the Utah Fraternal Order of

Police. Mr. Hamilton’s practice areas also include commercial litigation, complex

criminal defense (CJA Panel member), and health care litigation including licensing

matters before the Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing

(DOPL). Mr. Hamilton is a member of Durham Jones & Pinegar’s Board of

Directors and is the chair of the firm’s Governmental Entity Defense group.

He also has experience practicing in the areas of general civil litigation, real

estate, construction, land use, landlord/tenant, business/finance, banking, tax,

employment/labor and family law. Mr. Hamilton has significant trial experience in

both Federal and State Courts. He has also worked on briefs and/or argued before

the Utah Court of Appeals, Utah Supreme Court, the 9th & 10th Circuit Courts of

Appeals, and the U.S. Supreme Court.

He presently serves as the city attorney for the City of Hildale and general counsel

for the Hurricane City Police Department. Mr. Hamilton has been honored as

the Utah Young Lawyer of the Year in 2013; listed by the Mountain States Super

Lawyers Magazine as a Rising Star from 2010-2016; has been listed by the Utah

Business Magazine as one of Utah’s “Legal Elite” from 2013-2016, has a peer

rating of 5 out of 5 stars on Martindale-Hubbell.

S A L T L A K E C I T Y | L E H I | O G D E N | S T . G E O R G E | D J P L A W . C O M

R. BLAKE HAMILTON

Mr. Hamilton was born and raised in Utah. He is deeply committed to contributing to the community. While in law school, Mr. Hamilton

interned at the Gonzaga University Legal Assistance Clinic, which provides legal services for elderly and low income individuals. He also

co-chaired the Wills for Heroes committee, which provides wills and other estate planning services for emergency first responders and their

families for the past six years.

Mr. Hamilton is a member of the Executive Board of the Federal Bar Association for the Utah Chapter where he is in charge of recruiting

firms to participate in the Federal Appointment Wheel, which provides representation to pro se civil rights plaintiffs at the Federal Court’s

discretion. In his free time Mr. Hamilton enjoys spending time with his family as well as hiking, golfing, and snowboarding in Utah’s

beautiful outdoors.

REPRESENTATIVE CASES/DEALS

• Wisan v. City of Hildale, 330 P.3d 76 (Utah 2014)

• Cavanaugh v. Woods Cross City, 718 F.3d 1244 (10th Cir. 2013)

• Alpine Orthopaedic Specialists, LLC v. Intermountain Healthcare, Inc., 271 P.3d 174 (Utah Ct. App. 2012)

• Alpine Orthopaedic Specialists, LLC v. Utah State University, 263 P.3d 501 (Utah Ct. App. 2011)

• Cavanaugh v. Woods Cross City, 625 F.3d 661 (10th Cir. 2010)

• Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints v. Horne, 238 P.3d 1054 (Utah 2010)

• McKay Dee Credit Union v. Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, 2008 UT App 167

AWARDS

• Rising Stars, Super Lawyers (2010 – 2018)

• Legal Elite, Utah Business Magazine (2013 – 2018)

• Future Star – Benchmark Litigation (2016)

• Utah Young Lawyer of the Year (2013)

• Delegate for the Utah Bar Young Lawyer Division at the American Bar Association Annual Conference (2012)

• Recognized by the Utah State Bar Commission with a special portrait entitled “Faces of the

• Brave” for service on the Wills for Heroes Committee (December 2011)

PUBLICATIONS & PRESENTATIONS

• “The Implications of Brady-Giglio for Law Enforcement,” National Institute for Jail Operations Expert Blog, March 2016

• “Can Prisoners Stand Their Ground,” National Institute for Jail Operations Expert Blog, December 2015

• “Wills for Heroes: ‘A Rewarding Program,’” Utah Bar Journal, September/October 2014

• “Wills for Heroes: ‘Protecting Those Who Protect Us’,” Utah Bar Journal, May/June 2012

• “Wills for Heroes: “All Give Some, Some Give All,” The Utah Peace Officer, Winter 2012/13

S A L T L A K E C I T Y | L E H I | O G D E N | S T . G E O R G E | D J P L A W . C O M

R. BLAKE HAMILTON

• “Garrity, Investigations, and Evaluations,” Hurricane Police Department Supervisor Training, May 3, 2016

• “Use of Force and Restraints in Jails,” Utah County Sheriffs’ Office Training, April 11 & 14, 2016

• “Employment Discrimination Training,” Hildale, Utah, December 16, 2015

• “Use of Force & Death in Custody,” Box Elder County Sheriff ’s Office Training, December 10, 2015

• “Accountability Training,” Utah County Sheriffs’ Office Training, November 30, 2015

• “Utah Motion & Summary Judgment Practice 2.0: A User’s Guide to the Upgrades,” Utah State Bar Litigation Section CLE & Golf,

St. George, Utah 2015

• “Criminal Law Update,” Utah Sheriffs’ Association 20th Annual Corrections and Law Enforcement Training Conference, September

20-23, 2015

• “Civil Unrest & Law Enforcement: Mental Health, Body Cameras, and Community Outreach,” Utah Sheriffs’ Association 20th Annual

Corrections and Law Enforcement Training Conference, September 20-23, 2015

• “Case Law Update,” Utah Counties Indemnity Pool Risk Management Conference, September 2-3, 2015

• “Jail Personnel Issues: Garrity Warnings, FLSA, Disciplinary Due Process, Restrictions on Speech, and Discrimination,” Utah JCCA

Training, August 2015

• “Civil Unrest & Law Enforcement: Mental Health, Body Cameras, and Community Outreach,” Utah State Bar Summer Convention in

Sun Valley, July 2015

• “Litigation & Business: Four Practical Examples from Federal Law,” Utah State University Executive MBA Program Lecture, July 2015

• “First Amendment Rights: Right to Marriage, Right to Communicate, and Administrative Discretion,” National Sherriffs’ Association

Annual Conference, July 2015

• “Legal Update: PLN v. Babeu, Holt v. Hobbs, Kosilek v. Spencer, Galarza v. Szalczyk, Taylor v. Barkes, and Kingsley v. Hendrickson,”

National Sheriffs’ Association Annual Conference, July 2015

• “Police Video Camera Legislation,” Utah Municipal Attorneys Association Spting Conference, May 2015

• “Protecting Yourself from Civil Liability in Sticky Situations,” Cedar City Police Department / Iron County Sherriffs’ Office Training,

March 2015

• “Qualified Immunity, 14th Amendment, 4th Amendment/Search and Seizure, Use of Force, Supervisory Liability, and Agency

Liability,” Washington City Police Department Training, March 2015

• “Prisoner Discipline,” Utah JCCA Training, February 2015

• “Protecting Law Enforcement from Civil Liability,” Morgan County Sheriffs’ Office Training, January 2015

• “Courtroom Technology: You Better Learn What It Is and How to Use It,” Women lawyers of Utah CLE Presentation, December

2014

• “Proactive Jail Management,” National Sheriffs’ Association Institute for Jail Operations, Myrtle Beach Seminar, November 2014

• “Protecting Yourself from Civil Liability in Sticky Situations – Tasers, vehicle Pursuits, Informants, and the Mentally Ill,” Utah

Sheriffs’ Association 19th Annual Corrections and Law Enforcement Training Conference, September 2014

• “Legal Update of Civil Liability and Prisoner Rights,” National Sheriffs’ Association Institute for Jail Operations, New Orleans

Seminar, September 2014

S A L T L A K E C I T Y | L E H I | O G D E N | S T . G E O R G E | D J P L A W . C O M

R. BLAKE HAMILTON

• “Protecting Officers from Civil Liability,” Sandy City Police Department Training, July 201

• “The Importance of Training Government Employees,” URMMA’s Risk Management Conference, May 2014

• “Common Pitfalls of Plaintiffs Bringing Civil Rights Claims,” 50th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, April 2014

• “Protecting Officers from Civil Liability on the Street,” Utah JCCA Training, March 2014

• “Protecting Patrol Officers from Civil Liability,” Cedar City Police Department Training, January 2014

• “Use of Force Defense of Agencies/Officers,” Utah Chiefs of Police Mid-Winter Conference, December 2013

• “Ethical Conduct and Civil Litigation,” Cottonwood Heights Police Department In-Service Training, October 2013

• “Investigative Policies Concerning Use of Force,” Utah Sheriffs’ Association 18th Annual Corrections and Law Enforcement Training

Conference, September 21-24, 2013

• “The Role of the Judiciary,” Utah State Bar Committee on Civics Education presentation at Sand Ridge Junior High School assembly

celebrating Constitution Day 2013

• “Outlining the Policies of Police Officer Internal Investigations,” 31st Annual State and Local Government Conference, Provo, Utah

2013

• “American Voter Project,” Utah Bar Young Lawyer Division presentation at DaVinci Academy celebrating Law Day 2013

• “Realizing the Dream, Equality for All” Keynote address at Law Day Luncheon, May 1, 2013

• “Officer Involved Shootings-Protecting the Law Enforcement Officer from Legal Liability,” 40th Annual Utah Peace Officers

Association Midwinter Convention, February 8, 2013

• “Courtroom Technology: You Better Learn What It Is and How to Use It,” 2012 Annual Utah Attorney General CLE & Professional

Responsibility Seminar

• “Recent Developments in Law Enforcement Civil Rights Litigation,” Law Enforcement Training & CLE, Hurricane & St. George,

Utah 2012

• “Courtroom Technology: You Better Learn What It Is and How to Use It,” Utah State Bar Litigation Section CLE & Golf, Cache

Valley & St. George, Utah 2012

• “Recent Developments in Law Enforcement Civil Rights Litigation,” 30th Annual State and Local Government Conference, Provo,

Utah 2012

• “Protecting Law Enforcement from Legal Liability,” 30th Annual State and Local Government Conference, Provo, Utah 2012

• “How to Draft an Effective Legal Resume,” Utah Bar Young Lawyers Division Workshop, Salt Lake City, Utah 2011

PROFESSIONAL & CIVIC ACTIVITIES

• Treasurer, Federal Bar Association, Utah Chapter (2018 – Present)

• Executive Board Member of the Federal Bar Association, Utah Chapter, (2013 – present)

• Jail Advisory Council for the National Institute of Jail Operations (2016 – present)

• Force Science Institute Certified (2015)

• New Lawyer Training Program Mentor (2015 - present)

S A L T L A K E C I T Y | L E H I | O G D E N | S T . G E O R G E | D J P L A W . C O M

R. BLAKE HAMILTON

• Jail Training Advisory Committee for the National Sheriffs’ Association (2015)

• Member of the David K. Watkiss-Sutherland Inn II, American Inns of Court (2011- present)

• Member of the Utah Municipal Attorneys’ Association (2014 - present)

• Member of DRI (2014 - present)

• Member of the Criminal Law Section, Utah State Bar (2015 - present)

• Member of the Litigation Section, Utah State Bar (2014 – present)

• Member of the Health Law Section, Utah State Bar (2014 - present)

• Executive Council Member of the Utah Bar Young Lawyer Division (2009 – 2015)

• Co-Chair of the Wills for Heroes Committee (2009 - 2015)

• Roy City Planning Commission, Vice Chair (2009 – 2014)

• Chairperson on the Anne Stirba Cancer Foundation (2009 – 2014)

• Member of the Rex E. Lee Inn, American Inns of Court (2006 – 2008)

• Political and Church-related Activities

• Volunteer youth soccer and basketball coach

EDUCATION

Gonzaga University School of Law – Juris Doctor (2006)

• Moot Court Council President

• Member of Regional National Appellate Advocacy Competition Team

• Member of Regional ABA/LSD Negotiations Competition Team

• First place in the intra-school Negotiations Competition

• Semi-finalist in the intra-school Client Counseling Competition

Gonzaga University – Masters of Business Administration (2006)

Weber State University – Bachelor of Science in Economics with Departmental Honors (2003)

• Member of the Weber State University Supreme Court

• All-regional performer on school’s mock trial team, which placed first in the region

PRIOR PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

• Stirba, P.C., (2007 – 2014)

• Smith Knowles, (2006 – 2007)