DIRECTORS

 


  • Erin Byington is the Executive Director and handles the administrative responsibilities for the UFDA.

    Erin has been a licensed attorney, practicing law in the State of Utah since 2011 in all aspects of family law, criminal defense, juvenile defense, DCFS matters, family law, commercial litigation, business formation, estate planning and probate. Erin is a founding partner of Byington & Goble, PLLC with a primary office in Logan, Utah and a satellite office in Salt Lake City. Early in Erin’s career, she participated in DCFS matters under a conflict contract for parental defense for about 5 years, and has continued to provide private parental and juvenile defense since.

    Erin is a member of the Utah State Bar, Utah Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Utah Family Defenders Association, and Utah Association for Justice. Erin has been selected as a Super Lawyers Rising Stars Honoree in 2020, 2021, and 2022; likewise, Erin’s firm has been selected as Best of Northern Utah in the areas of Family Law, Criminal Defense, and overall Law Firm for 2021, with repeat awards in 2022. When not at work, Erin can be found spending time with her husband and two young daughters.

  • UFDA President, 3rd District

    Jordan is the current President of the UFDA Board of Directors and area representative for the 3rd District. Jordan is a native of San Diego. Jordan moved to Utah to attend Brigham Young University, and law school at the University of Utah.

    Jordan is passionate about parental defense and joined Lokken & Putnam, P.C. in 2013. His practice also includes divorce/custody and criminal defense.

    When he isn't in the courtroom, he enjoys hiking, skiing, and picking up after his kids

  • Candace joined the Board of UFDA in 2022

  • President-Elect, 2nd District

    Jason is the current UFDA President-Elect and represents the 2nd District. He grew up in Ogden, Utah and graduated from Ogden High School in 2000. He attended undergrad and law school at the University of Utah. Before law school, he worked for a number of years in politics, managing field operations for several state-wide initiatives and successful congressional campaigns. After graduating law school, Jason worked for two years for Weber County public defenders, mainly on capital homicide cases. He is now in private practice with offices in Ogden and Farmington. He has had a parental defense contract since 2012, is a member of Weber and Davis County Bar Association, as well as the juvenile and bankruptcy sections of the Utah State Bar, the Utah Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and the Utah Bankruptcy Lawyers Forum. In 2016, he was awarded the trial attorney of the year award by the UFDA. Jason has extensive experience at the trial and appellate level in defending the rights of parents in child welfare matters. He lives in Farmington with his wife and 3 kids. When not at work, he can usually be found skiing, running, gardening, cooking, and playing with his kids.

 
 


  • 4th District

    Margaret P. Lindsay is an Assistant Director in the Utah County Public Defender Association with responsibility over the Juvenile and Appeals Divisions. Her practice centers around juvenile and appellate public defense work. She also spent several years in private practice in Provo with the firm Esplin & Weight where she also did work in the areas of criminal defense, adoptions and family law in addition to her juvenile and appellate work. She graduated from BYU's J. Reuben Clark Law School. She currently sits on the Indigent Defense Commission, the Board of Directors for the Utah Parental Defense Alliance, and on the 4th District Juvenile Court's Child Welfare Interagency Council and Family Drug Court Committee. In the past she has served on the governing board of the Utah County Boys & Girls Club, and as a member of the Utah Supreme Court's Committee on the Utah Rules of Appellate Procedure. She is also licensed to practice before the United States Supreme Court.

  • 5th District

    Michael Rawson grew up as an Air Force ‘brat' attending about 20 different schools across the country. He graduated from BYU in Journalism. Michael worked for 30 years as a television news reporter in Salt Lake City for KUTV and KTVX and acquired four Rocky Mountain Emmys along the way.

    He went to law school at age 50. In 2002, he received his J.D. from Western State University School of Law in Fullerton, California. After passing the Utah Bar, Michael moved to St. George and began his second career. He works mostly in family law, criminal defense and child welfare. Michael has been a parental defender since 2003. He finds it has been a very satisfying challenge. In 2011, Michael received the PDA's Trial Attorney of the Year award.

    On the personal side, he finally got married at age 60 to Miriam who he had met 35 years before at BYU. Michael is an avid reader of non-fiction, mostly history, and considers himself an amateur baseball historian.

    Michael looks forward to his duties on the Board of Directors representing parental defenders in Southern Utah.

  • 7th & 8th Districts

    Mark H. Tanner graduated from Brigham Young University with a Bachelor of Science degree from the Marriott School of Management in 1983. He pursued his Doctorate of Jurisprudence from the College of Law at the University of Tulsa, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, earning his JD in 1986. He has worked as Emery County Attorney, Carbon County Public Defender, Emery County Conflicts Counsel, and in private practice. He is married to the former Nanette Hinkins. They are the parents of 10 children, and six grandchildren (so far).

    Mark is active in his community. He has served as the youth baseball county league president and city commissioner. He has served on and chaired the Orangeville City Zoning and Planning Council, and chaired the Orangeville Centennial Celebration. He has served many years in the Boys Scouts of America, and currently serves as the Tavaputs District chairman. He was awarded the Silver Beaver in 2012. Mark currently serves as South Eastern Utah Bar Association (SEUBA) president, serves on the Pro Bono Committee for the Seventh Judicial District, and as a board member for Heritage Funeral Home. He was awarded the UFDA Attorney of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014.

    He represents parents in DCFS matters, and also practices in the areas of criminal defense, bankruptcy, estate planning and other family matters. Mark loves being with his family, serving the community and cheering the youth on to responsible and productive adulthood.