Vermont Senate confirms Kate T. Gallagher to Superior Court, affirms housing appointment; reads five House bills

The Vermont Senate confirmed Kate T. Gallagher as a superior court judge and affirmed Christopher Gomez as a commissioner of the Vermont Housing Finance Agency during a short session that opened with devotional exercises.

Senator Frum, delivering the Committee on Judiciary's report, summarized Gallagher's education and career and read the committee's recommendation for confirmation. According to that report, when asked why she sought the position Gallagher said, "I have learned to be more patient, kinder, and less willing to assume I know the truth." The Senate then took a roll-call vote; the secretary announced the result as 26 yes, 0 no and the presiding officer declared the appointment confirmed.

Christopher Gomez of Rutland was presented for confirmation as a commissioner of the Vermont Housing Finance Agency and was affirmed by voice vote earlier in the session. The presiding officer asked those in favor to indicate by saying "aye," and the motion was carried.

Earlier in the session the secretary read the first titles of five House bills and referred each to the committee named on the calendar: H.862 (an act relating to approval of amendments to the charters of the town of Barre) to the Committee on Government Operations; H.874 (miscellaneous changes in education laws) to the Committee on Education; H.876 (miscellaneous amendments to corrections laws) and H.882 (capital construction and state bonding budget adjustment) to the Committee on Institutions; and H.884 (modernization of governance for the St. Alban Cemetery Association) to the Committee on Government Operations.

The chamber opened with devotional exercises led by Reverend Derek Fallon of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church of Jericho, who quoted Maya Angelou and offered a prayer that asked for wisdom and compassion for those who govern. The Senate concluded by approving an adjournment until Tuesday, April 9 at 9:30 a.m., and announced that Senate Government Operations will meet at 1:00 p.m.

No amendments to the confirmations were recorded in the session. Vote tallies recorded in the transcript show Kate T. Gallagher's confirmation passed 26‑0; the record for Christopher Gomez indicates affirmation by voice vote.