Utah Senate passes bill for the governor, senators to choose Utah Supreme Court’s chief justice

SALT LAKE CITY — The full Utah Senate narrowly voted to approve a bill that would change who picks the chief justice of the Utah Supreme Court.

 

Under current Utah law, the justices of the state Supreme Court select the chief justice by a majority vote amongst themselves.

SB296, sponsored by Senate Majority Whip Chris Wilson, R-Logan, would make it so that Utah’s governor would appoint the chief justice and the Senate would have to confirm the governor’s appointment.

Wilson said on the Senate floor Friday ahead of the vote that making this change would “establish a deliberate process that enhances transparency in our state, while preserving the system of checks and balances.”

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He also said making this change would allow the public to engage in the process by attending the Senate confirmation hearings for the chief justice.

The proposal received pushback since it was introduced earlier this legislative session, including from the Utah State Bar.

Twelve senators, including six Republicans, voted against it.

“It really strikes me as problematic that given all the things that have happened in recent months … allegations we’ve had about retribution … that we are still trying to move in this direction,” said Sen. Nate Blouin, D-Salt Lake, before voting against the bill on the Senate floor.

The Senate ultimately passed the bill by a slim 17-12 majority.

It is scheduled to be heard by a House committee Monday morning. If passed there, it will head to the full House, who will decide whether it heads to the governor’s desk.

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