Bio
Mr. Stirba focuses his practice on representing clients in complex civil and criminal litigation. Mr. Stirba is presently an Associate Adjunct Professor at the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law, where he has taught the Pretrial Practice course. Mr. Stirba has also been a frequent lecturer on various topics of trial and appellate advocacy including having taught civil advocacy techniques at the Brigham Young University J. Reuben Clark Law School, and in numerous presentations before many organizations including the Utah State Bar and the Texas State Bar. Mr. Stirba also is one of only a handful of Utah lawyers who have had the privilege of arguing before the United States Supreme Court. He successfully argued the 2009 case of Pearson v. Callahan, which was a unanimous decision in his clients’ favor. That case established important precedent concerning the defense of qualified immunity in federal civil rights litigation. Since the decision in 2009, the Pearson decision had been cited in case law over 13,000 times.
Education
- Juris Doctor, University of Utah College of Law (1976)
- Bachelor of Arts, Philosophy, cum laude, College of Wooster (1973)
Professional Affiliations
- 2015-2018 Chairman, Utah Sentencing Commission
- 2015-2018 Member, Utah Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice
- 2010-2014 Third Judicial District Court Nominating Commission
- 2010-2012 University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law, Board of Trustees
- 2008-Present Associate Adjunct Professor of Law, S.J. Quinney College of Law, University of Utah Ad Hoc Judicial Application Review Committee
Speaking Engagements
- “The Importance of GRAMA: Its Implications for Law Enforcement,” 24th Annual Law Enforcement and Corrections Training Conference, St. George, Utah 2019
- “Sentencing Guidelines: What is in it for Law Enforcement,” 23rd Annual Law Enforcement and Corrections Training Conference, St. George, Utah 2018
- “What to do When the Criminal Investigators Come Knocking: Difficult Questions for Law Enforcement Officers,” 22nd Annual Law Enforcement and Corrections Training Conference, St. George, Utah 2017
- “Civil Litigation Law Enforcement: What is Trending,” 21st Annual Law Enforcement and Corrections Training Conference “Tough New Challenges – Stronger Resolve”, St. George, Utah 2016
Awards and Honors
- AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell®
- Utah Business Magazine, Utah Legal Elite, Criminal Law
- Mountain States Super Lawyers®
- Utah Sherriff’s Association Gary Deland Award (2018)
- Honorary Sherriff Designation, Utah Sherriff’s Association (2015)
- Service to the Court Award, Judicial Council of the State of Utah (2015)
- Utah State Bar Lawyer of the Year (2013)