Kathryn Nester’s Career: A Deep Legal Resume
Nester’s legal track record spans more than three decades and several states. Her official biography highlights her extensive time as a federal public defender in both Salt Lake City and San Diego. She also served on the National Steering Committee for the Clemency Project, a reform initiative designed to reduce excessive prison terms.
She has worked across the spectrum of civil and criminal law, but her career has been punctuated by difficult, high-profile cases that attracted national attention. For her service, she received the Federal Bar Distinguished Service Award from the District of Utah — a rare recognition.
High-Profile Defense Work Before Robinson
Nester is no stranger to controversy. She defended Dr. Kirk Moore, a Utah physician accused of running a COVID-19 vaccination card scheme during the pandemic. That case collapsed when then–Attorney General Pam Bondi directed the Department of Justice to dismiss the charges.
In 2024, Nester also stepped in to represent Kouri Richins, the Utah mother charged with fatally poisoning her husband, after Richins’ prior attorney withdrew due to a conflict. Both matters illustrate Nester’s willingness to take on defendants whose reputations have been ravaged before a jury ever hears the facts.
