Three appeals court judges, four 3rd District Court judges and two college law professors are among the 14 that Gov. Mike Leavitt will choose from to fill two upcoming vacancies on the Utah Supreme Court.
The names of the 14 nominees, released Tuesday by the Appellate Court Nominating Commission, will undergo a public review process before being passed on to the governor. The two openings are the result of Justice Michael D. Zimmerman and Justice I. Daniel Stewart retiring in January.After a 10-day public comment period, the nominating commission could request further investigation or interviews with any of the candidates. A nominee can be removed from the list only upon the vote of six members of the commission.
The nominees remaining after the comment period will be submitted to the governor. After interviewing each candidate the governor will, within 30 days, select his two choices. Those two selections will be submitted to the Utah Senate for confirmation by a majority vote.
The list of nominees are:
Michael J. Wilkins, Bountiful, a judge on the Utah Court of Appeals.
Russell W. Bench, Centerville, a judge on the Utah Court of Appeals.
Pamela T. Greenwood, Salt Lake City, a judge on the Utah Court of Appeals.
William B. Bohling, Salt Lake City, a judge in the 3rd District.
Matthew B. Durrant, Salt Lake City, a judge in the 3rd District.
Frank G. Noel, Sandy, a judge in the 3rd District.
William A Thorne Jr., Salt Lake City, a judge in the 3rd District.
Gordon J. Low, Providence, a judge in the 1st District.
Kay L. McIff, Richfield, a judge in the 6th District.
Constance K. Lundberg, Orem, associate dean Brigham Young University Law School.
Paul G. Cassell, Salt Lake City, associate professor University of Utah College of Law.
Mark L. Callister, Farmington, shareholder in law firm of Callister, Nebeker & McCullough.
M. David Eckersley, Salt Lake City, attorney with law firm of Prince, Yeates & Geldzahler.
James C. Jenkins, Logan, partner in law firm of Olson & Hoggan, P.C.
Those wanting to submit written comments on a candidate can do so within 10 days to Commission Chairman David Jordan, in care of the Administrative Office of the Courts, P.O. Box 140241, Salt Lake City, UT, 84114-0241. The written comments must be received by the commission by 5 p.m. Nov. 26.
Should Leavitt fill the openings with a district court judge or a judge from the Utah Court of Appeals, that would create judicial vacancies that would later be filled through the nominating commission process.