Utah Senate unanimously confirms Coral Sanchez to Third District Court

The Utah Senate on a special December 2022 session unanimously confirmed Coral Sanchez to serve as a judge on the Third District Court, the body announced after a roll-call vote and brief remarks from the newly confirmed judge.

Sen. Wyler, chairing the Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee, reported that the committee met, interviewed Sanchez and voted unanimously to recommend her confirmation. Wyler summarized Sanchez's background: a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Southern California; a J.D. from the S.J. Quinney College of Law at the University of Utah; work as a prosecutor and in private practice; supervisory responsibilities in the Davis County Attorney’s Office including oversight of the special victims unit and the Children's Justice Center liaison duties; adjunct teaching at the law enforcement academy; and awards including Utah Crime Victims Council prosecutor of the year and recognition from the Salt Lake City prosecutor’s office. Wyler moved that the Senate consent to the governor’s appointment.

Madam Secretary read Gov. Spencer J. Cox’s letter transmitting the appointment under Article VIII, Section 8 of the Utah Constitution and citing Utah Code §78A-10-101 and the information disclosure requirements of Utah Code §67-1-2(2). The Senate proceeded to a roll-call vote; the presiding officer announced 28 votes in favor, 0 opposed and 1 absent and declared the appointment confirmed.

Following the confirmation, the Senate resolved into the Committee of the Whole so Judge Coral Sanchez could address the body. Sanchez thanked senators for convening on short notice, expressed gratitude to Gov. Cox and to her family, and said she was “humbled and grateful” for the appointment and that she would “work tirelessly” in her new role as a district court judge.

After Sanchez spoke, the Senate dissolved the Committee of the Whole, the presiding officer instructed a senator to notify the governor’s representative that the Senate had concluded its business, and the body adjourned. The presiding officer also recognized Senators Iwamoto and Kitchen and thanked them for their service.

The appointment and confirmation were handled under the Senate’s extraordinary-session rules, which the Senate adopted at the start of the meeting for use during the session.