Utah Senate unanimously consents to two judicial nominees

The Utah Senate on June 2021 unanimously consented to two of Governor Spencer J. Cox’s judicial nominations, advancing Amy Oliver to a judgeship on the Third District Court and Jeffrey (Jeff) Ross to the Eighth District Juvenile Court.

The secretary read the governor’s communications transmitting the nominations and the supporting materials, including committee findings that each nominee met statutory qualifications under Utah Code. The Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee, chaired by Todd Wyler, reported favorable recommendations in both cases.

Senator Ibsen moved the consent for each nominee and the Senate proceeded to roll-call votes. The body congratulated both nominees after the votes. The transcript records that the Senate “consented” to Amy Oliver and later “consented” to Jeffrey Ross; the roll-call tallies in the transcript are reported inconsistently (see clarifying details).

After the confirmation, the Senate resolved into the Committee of the Whole to hear brief remarks. Amy Oliver thanked the Senate and introduced family members in the gallery, calling the appointment “the thrill of a lifetime” and saying she was honored to serve the community and the Third District bench. Jeff Ross introduced his wife and children, described his eight-plus years in juvenile court work and said he was “hooked on the juvenile court” and committed to giving his all to the Eighth District.

Both confirmations followed committee vetting. The Senate’s recorded actions were a direct consent to the governor’s appointments rather than floor debate on legal issues or contested objections. The next procedural step is administrative: issuance of the commissions and Judge Ross’s and Judge Oliver’s placement on their respective dockets.

Speakers quoted in this report spoke on the record to the Senate during the session.