The Utah Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers reported that Kent Hart slipped while hiking with his family July 24 and he fell into a waterfall.
District of Utah federal public defender Kathryn Nester was Hart's boss and said his body was recovered Wednesday.
She told the Deseret News that Hart was committed to ensuring quality representation regardless of a defendant's financial situation.
Hart split his time between the public defender's office and the association where he was executive director. He was a graduate of the S J Quinney College of Law at the University of Utah.