Ryan N. Holtan

Ryan N. Holtan specializes in criminal defense and trial law. Mr. Holtan grew up in Alaska before attending college in Montana where he raced for Montana State University’s NCAA ski team. After college, Mr. Holtan went to straight to law school at the University of Utah. In his third year of law school, Mr. Holtan elected to participate in a year-long criminal clinic with the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office.

See “No Trial Is Unwinnable“.

Ryan N. Holtan was raised in Alaska and spent his summers fishing and his winters skiing.  School and skiing took him to Montana State University where he raced for their NCAA Division I ski team.  Mr. Holtan graduated with honors from Montana State University in 2006 with a degree in Political Science.  He immediately enrolled in the S.J. Quinney College of Law at the University of Utah where he focused on criminal and natural resources law.

During his second year of law school Mr. Holtan worked as a law clerk for a large regional Oil & Gas law firm.  In his third year of law school, Mr. Holtan elected to participate in a year-long criminal clinic with the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office.  It was there that he discovered his true passion and love trial law.  While at the District Attorney’s Office, Mr. Holtan prosecuted cases for Salt Lake County and the State of Utah.  He handled difficult and complex  criminal charges from arraignment to trial.  This experience has proven invaluable as it gave him an inside look at the system he would later face across the courtroom.

After graduating from law school at the age of only 24, Mr. Holtan went into private civil practice for a short time but left to pursue his career in criminal defense.  He managed his own criminal law practice and quickly gained a reputation for passionate and professional defense.  Managing his own practice gave him a unique perspective on the law and the opportunity to relate directly to his clients.  But after more than a year Mr. Holtan wanted to spend less time on business and more time on law and his clients.  It was then he joined the team at Pearson, Butler & Carson.  He brought the passion and personal contact that made his own practice successful and gained the support and experience of Pearson Butler.

Mr. Holtan is licensed to practice law in the State and Federal Courts of Utah.  He actively participates in the criminal law community and pro bono projects.  He is extremely excited to be a part of Pearson, Butler & Carson and continue serving his clients and protecting their rights.

Mr. Holtan managed his own criminal defense practice in Salt Lake City before joining the team at Pearson Butler & Carson, PLLC.