SALT LAKE CITY — The U.S. Senate unanimously confirmed Utah Supreme Court Justice Jill Parrish as federal judge Thursday.
Parrish, who was nominated for the post last September, has served on the state's top court the past 12 years and has worked in the legal profession for 30 years.
Sen. Orrin Hatch called her confirmation a great honor for Utah.
"She has a tremendous record of excellence both before and behind the bench, in state and federal court, in the private and public sectors, and in both trial and appellate courts," he said in a statement.
Sen. Mike Lee said Parrish has distinguished herself as a prosecutor, litigator in private practice and as state supreme court justice.
"Justice Parrish is a friend to all who know her, and a credit to the legal profession and to jurists everywhere," he said in a statement. "I can’t think of anyone better suited to fill the very large shoes of Judge Dee Benson than Justice Parrish."
Benson assumed senior status on the federal bench in Utah last year, limiting his caseload.
Parrish graduated from Weber State College in 1982 before receiving a law degree from Yale Law School in 1985. She began her legal career as a clerk in Utah's district court, worked for the Salt Lake-based Parr Brown Gee & Loveless law firm and served as an assistant U.S. attorney from 1995 to 2003.