Skordas & Caston

Ive practiced law for over 40 years, since 1982. I began my career at the Salt Lake Legal Defenders Association, representing indigent defendants in criminal matters. I gained a great appreciation for the value of competent legal representation and our Constitution's protections for victims and the accused.

I worked for eight years at the Salt Lake County Attorney's office, rising to the position of First Assistant Salt Lake County Attorney. In 1992, I was Utah's first gang prosecutor and was recognized and awarded by the Salt Lake Area Gang project. I was involved in proposing legislation to combat the gang issue and put Utah on the national forefront of innovative gang interdiction. We worked with the Legislature to eventually create the Serious Youth Offender Act which allows prosecutors to bring serious, consequential charges against gang offenders. I spent several years as head of the "Special Victims Unit” prosecuting sex crimes and crimes against children. We again worked with the Legislature to promote victims’ rights. I was awarded by the County Attorney's office in 1993 for my work there.

In 1995, I left the County Attorney's office and started my own law practice at a small law firm, which ultimately became known as Skordas, Caston and Hyde. That same year, I was part of a group of three Utah lawyers who studied and brought the Drug Court concept to Utah. Thanks to those efforts, Utah started its first Drug Court in Salt County. Utah Courts have graduated thousands of Drug Court participants since then, and Drug Courts are now operating in virtually every District Court in the State.