Approximately 50–70
Criminal jury trials personally first-chaired
Dozens of trials in which Joshua served as first-chair counsel, including first-degree felony trials.
Utah criminal defense
Criminal defense for the decisions that shape the entire case.
Drawing on two decades of experience defending felony charges—including first-degree felony and lower-degree charges—Mountain State Attorneys brings focused preparation to every stage of the defense.
A comfortable place to begin
Let’s talk about what you need.
You don’t need to have it all figured out. A general idea of what’s happening is enough to start a conversation.
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Joshua R. KotterFounder & managing partner · JD, MBAMeet the attorney
- Is the first consultation free?
- Yes. Your initial consultation is free, with no obligation to hire the firm.
- Who will get back to me?
- A firm attorney generally responds first, so you can begin with someone who understands legal questions.
- How soon should I hear back?
- Usually the same business day, during our office hours: Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Mountain Time. Response times can vary.
- Can we speak by phone or Zoom?
- Yes. Telephone and Zoom consultations are available, so you can speak with us without coming to the office.
- When will I know the legal fees?
- We explain legal fees before you hire our firm, so you can make an informed decision.
- What should I have ready?
- Just a brief overview and any urgent dates you know about. You don’t need a polished explanation. Save detailed sensitive information for your conversation with an attorney.
Defense begins with clarity
A charge is an allegation—not the end of the story.
A criminal case can move quickly while leaving the accused person with very little reliable information. The first job of defense counsel is to slow the moment down: identify what has happened, determine what must happen next, and create a disciplined plan before pressure dictates the strategy.
Mountain State Attorneys represents people facing criminal investigations and charges in Utah. We examine how the investigation was conducted, what the available evidence actually shows, whether constitutional protections were honored, and how each possible path could affect the client beyond the courtroom.
Every case is different. Some matters call for early intervention before charges are filed. Others turn on a motion, a disputed fact, a negotiated resolution, or trial. The strategy should be built around the record, the law, and the client's priorities—not a standard script.
Experience in serious criminal matters
Two decades of felony-defense experience, measured with context—not promises.
Joshua R. Kotter and Mountain State Attorneys bring two decades of experience defending felony criminal charges, including first-degree felony (F1) and lower-degree charges. By the firm's count, Joshua has personally first-chaired dozens of criminal jury trials—approximately 50 to 70—including first-degree felony trials. His individual felony docket and the firm's broader experience reflect sustained work in serious, high-consequence criminal matters.
1,225
Felony matters personally handled
Joshua's reported felony experience includes first- and second-degree felony matters.
Approximately 50% / 50%
Reported F1 and F2 case mix
The reported mix of first- and second-degree felony matters was approximately even.
Approximately 1,197
Acquittals, dismissals, or major charge reductions
An aggregate count of those reported outcomes across Joshua's handled felony matters—not a count of trial verdicts alone.
Approximately 1,200
Serious felony matters handled by the firm
Matters involving homicide, aggravated-assault, sex-offense, or major white-collar felony allegations, including homicide cases.
Suppression and preliminary-hearing work
Constitutional and evidentiary challenges
The firm has obtained successful suppression rulings in a meaningful share of matters in which it filed suppression motions and uses preliminary hearings to test probable cause and the evidence supporting felony charges.
How these figures are measured. These figures are based on Mountain State Attorneys' firm-maintained matter and outcome records and Joshua R. Kotter's professional records through September 2026. Figures marked “approximately” are estimates and have not been independently audited. “Handled” includes matters in which counsel provided legal representation and does not necessarily mean a trial. Outcome categories are aggregated and may include negotiated resolutions; “major charge reduction” is the firm's internal case-review classification. The suppression description is limited to matters in which the firm filed a motion. No current standardized Utah or national database was identified that permits a reliable comparison of suppression-motion outcomes.
Results disclaimer. Past results do not guarantee or predict a similar result. Every matter depends on its facts, governing law, evidence, tribunal, and circumstances.
Criminal matters
Focused defense across a range of Utah cases.
The details of the accusation matter. So do the circumstances of the investigation, the available defenses, and the consequences that may follow.
Investigations & pre-charge counsel
Guidance when law enforcement is asking questions, executing a warrant, or evaluating whether to file a case.
Felony & misdemeanor charges
Defense planning calibrated to the seriousness of the accusation and the client's individual exposure.
DUI & driving-related offenses
Review of the stop, testing, observations, recordings, and the separate practical consequences that can accompany a driving case.
Explore this service 04Assault & domestic-violence allegations
Careful analysis of witness accounts, context, physical evidence, protective restrictions, and related family consequences.
Explore this service 05Drug allegations
Defense of possession, distribution, and related claims, including scrutiny of searches, seizures, attribution, and forensic evidence.
Explore this service 06Theft, fraud & financial offenses
Document-intensive defense for allegations involving property, transactions, intent, accounting records, or electronic communications.
Explore this serviceJuvenile matters
Representation attentive to both the immediate proceeding and the young person's education, family, record, and future opportunities.
Post-case options
Assessment of record-related relief and other available next steps when a past case continues to affect the future.
A defense built in layers
From immediate protection to courtroom preparation.
Good defense work connects what happened at the beginning of the case to the choices that will matter at the end.
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01
Protect the position
Address urgent deadlines, communications, release conditions, evidence preservation, and other decisions that should not be left to chance.
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02
Reconstruct the record
Review reports, recordings, digital information, physical evidence, witness accounts, and the sequence of the investigation.
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03
Test the case
Identify factual conflicts, evidentiary weaknesses, constitutional issues, expert needs, motion practice, and realistic resolution options.
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04
Prepare for the decisive forum
Negotiate from a prepared position while building the case needed for a hearing or trial if that is where the matter must go.
Questions at the beginning
What people often need to know first.
These answers provide general information. Advice for a particular matter depends on its facts, timing, and governing law.
When should I contact a criminal defense attorney?
As early as reasonably possible. Counsel may be able to protect communications, preserve evidence, help you respond to investigators, and address time-sensitive issues before the case hardens around decisions made without advice.
Should I explain my side to the police first?
You generally should not make a substantive statement about an investigation without first obtaining legal advice tailored to the situation. A desire to clear things up can lead to incomplete, misunderstood, or later-disputed statements.
What happens during the first meeting?
The useful starting point is a confidential chronology: what happened, what law enforcement has done, what documents or recordings exist, and what deadlines or restrictions are in place. Counsel can then identify immediate priorities and the information still needed.
Does being charged mean I will be convicted?
No. A charge is an accusation. The prosecution still bears its burden, evidence can be challenged, facts can be disputed, and the appropriate defense depends on the specific record and governing law.
Will my case go to trial?
Many cases resolve without trial, but no responsible answer can be given before the evidence, risks, objectives, and available options are understood. Trial preparation can also improve the quality of decisions and negotiations along the way.
What should I preserve?
Keep potentially relevant messages, photographs, videos, location information, documents, and names of witnesses. Do not alter, delete, publish, or ask others to change information that could relate to the matter.
Authority and maintenance
Reviewed, sourced, and kept current.
This page provides general information. The authorities that control a particular matter depend on its facts, date, forum, and jurisdiction.
- Written by
- Joshua R. Kotter
- Attorney review
- Joshua R. Kotter
- Last reviewed
- September 4, 2026
- Next scheduled review
- December 4, 2026, or sooner if controlling law changes
- Jurisdictional scope
- Utah
Primary and official sources
Start with a confidential conversation
Do not let the next decision be made without a defense plan.
Tell us where the matter stands. We will help you identify the immediate risks, the questions that need answers, and the path forward.
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