Utah Senate confirms three judicial nominees and several gubernatorial appointees in one-day extraordinary session

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Senate convened in an extraordinary session on Oct. 19, 2022, and moved quickly to consent to a slate of gubernatorial appointments, including three judges and several board members, the chamber announced at the close of its business.

Senators voted by roll call to confirm Alex Goble to the Sixth District juvenile court, Blaine Rawson to the Second District Court and John Luthy to the Utah Court of Appeals. President Adams announced the vote tallies as follows: Goble, 26-0 with three absent; Rawson, 25-0 with four absent; and Luthy, 25-0 with four absent. Later in the session the Senate also consented to several additional gubernatorial appointments by a 24-0 vote with five absent.

The confirmations followed the governor's formal transmittals and committee reviews. Senator Wyler introduced the judicial nominees and told colleagues that committee hearings had been held for each candidate and that the Senate confirmation committee had voted unanimously to recommend them.

Goble, whose appointment to the Sixth District juvenile court was transmitted in a letter from Gov. Spencer J. Cox citing Article 8 of the Utah Constitution and Utah Code section 78-10-101, told senators he would "follow the constitution of the state of Utah, the constitution of The United States," and adjudicate matters with "full faith and purpose towards the law." He was introduced to the chamber and later addressed senators and family in the gallery after the confirmation vote.

Blaine Rawson, confirmed to the Second District Court, was described by Senator Wyler as an attorney with a long practice in commercial and environmental litigation handling matters under the Clean Air Act, CERCLA and the Clean Water Act. Rawson, who the committee unanimously recommended, thanked the Senate and said he was grateful for the confidence placed in him.

John Luthy, confirmed to the Utah Court of Appeals, had undergone two committee hearings under the Senate's confirmation process, Wyler said, and earned unanimous committee support. Luthy told the Senate he was "honored and grateful and humbled, by this opportunity to serve the people of Utah," and pledged to carry out his appellate duties "with diligence and integrity."

In addition to the three judicial confirmations, the Senate consented to a batch of appointments transmitted by the governor that included members of the State Finance Review Commission, the Board of Economic Opportunity and the State Records Committee. Senator Bramble moved consent to those appointments; the motion passed by roll call.

The Senate opened the session by adopting its rules for the extraordinary session on a unanimous voice vote, the secretary read the governor's proclamation calling the meeting, and the chamber paused at several points to resolve into and dissolve a Committee of the Whole so newly confirmed judges could address the body. After concluding the day's business the Senate adjourned.

Authorities cited during the transmittals included Article 7 and Article 8 of the Utah Constitution and Utah Code sections 78-10-101 and 67-1-2, which the secretary read alongside the governor's letters recommending each nominee.

The Senate did not hold extended debate on the confirmations during the floor session; Wyler noted committee hearings and said the chamber had met procedural notice requirements. The session lasted only long enough to take up the governor's communications, hear brief remarks from the newly confirmed judges and complete the remaining appointments before adjourning.

The governor's letters and the secretary's readings form the official record of the nominations and the transmittals under state code.

— Additional procedural actions: the Senate adopted its extraordinary-session rules, resolved into Committees of the Whole to hear remarks from confirmed judges, consented to several board appointments by the governor and adjourned the same day. The Senate directed its clerk to notify the governor's representative at the conclusion of business.