NEW RELEASE: Gov. Cox appoints Lisa Crawford to Board of Pardons and Parole

What this means

Utah Governor Spencer Cox appointed attorney Lisa Crawford to the state Board of Pardons and Parole on October 2, 2026, to fill the position previously held by Melissa Stirba. The appointment requires Utah Senate confirmation. Crawford has served as a pro tempore board member since 2025 and previously spent nearly 19 years with the Utah County Public Defender Association. If confirmed, she will complete Stirba’s term through February 2028 and may then be considered for a five-year term.

Official release

Source material from Utah Governor’s Office. The wording below is the issuer’s statement.

SALT LAKE CITY (Oct. 2, 2026) — Utah Gov. Spencer J. Cox has appointed Lisa Crawford to the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole, filling the position previously held by Melissa Stirba. The appointment is subject to confirmation by the Utah Senate.

“Lisa’s previous service on the board has prepared her well for this appointment,” Gov. Cox said. “Her legal career gives her a valuable perspective on the board’s work, and I appreciate her commitment to serving the people of Utah.”

Crawford has served as a pro tempore member of the board since 2025. She is an attorney in private practice and serves on the Utah Supreme Court’s Advisory Committee on the Rules of Criminal Procedure.

Previously, Crawford spent nearly 19 years with the Utah County Public Defender Association, including five years as a supervising attorney. She also worked as an attorney and investigator for the Utah State Board of Education, a law clerk and bailiff in the Fourth District Court, a juvenile probation officer and a youth corrections counselor.

Crawford earned her J.D. from the J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University and bachelor’s degrees in psychology and sociology from the University of Utah.

“I am grateful to be selected by Governor Cox to the Board of Pardons and Parole,” Crawford said. “It is an honor to serve the public in this capacity. If confirmed, I will strive to carry out my duties with diligence, fairness and respect.”

If confirmed, Crawford will serve the remainder of Stirba’s term, which ends in February 2028. She will be eligible for reappointment to a five-year term.

A headshot of Lisa Crawford can be found here.

Release text attributed to Utah Governor’s Office. Consult the official publication for any subsequent corrections or updates.