About Michael Wei Kwan

Honoring the Life and Legacy of a Legal and Judicial Changemaker

The late, Honorable Michael Wei Kwan’s distinguished legal and judiciary career highlighted several noteworthy accomplishments, including one of the nation’s first DUI/Drug Courts, establishing a Domestic Violence Program that was awarded the Peace on Earth Award from the Salt Lake Area Domestic Violence Advisory Council, and service on the Utah Substance Abuse and Anti-Violence Council. He was a recipient of the Quality of Justice Award from the Utah Third District Court, and he taught several courses across the country in many aspects of judicial education. Judge Kwan presided over the Taylorsville Municipal Court from 1998 until his death in 2020.

A descendant of Chinese workers who built the Transcontinental Railroad, Judge Kwan was a passionate advocate for the dignity and recognition of Chinese Americans. Judge Kwan was also certified in Chinese Law by the East China University of Politics and Law.

Salt Lake Community College enjoyed a deep association with Judge Kwan, who was an adjunct instructor in SLCC’s Criminal Justice program for more than 20 years. He contributed to maintaining courses in Criminal Law and Laws of Evidence and served on the Criminal Justice Program Advisory Committee in a variety of roles including committee chair. Judge Kwan’s influence upon students, faculty and the Criminal Justice community at SLCC was immense, with many testimonies of how lives were changed and empowered by his compassionate mentoring.