SALT LAKE CITY — A nominating commission has selected five people to fill a vacancy on the 5th District Juvenile Court. The vacancy results from the retirement of Judge Thomas Higbee, effective April 30. The 5th Judicial District includes Beaver, Iron and Washington counties.
The nominees are Jack Burns, attorney, Burns Law Office; Eric Gentry, deputy county attorney, Washington County Attorney’s Office; Troy Little, chief deputy attorney, Iron County Attorney’s Office; Julie Nelson, assistant attorney general, Utah Attorney General’s Office; Jay Winward, attorney, Winward Law PLLC.
Written comments can be submitted to Cindy Bulloch, chairwoman of the 5th District Judicial Nominating Commission, at judicialvacancies@utah.gov or Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice, P.O. Box 142330, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-2330.
The deadline for written comments is noon Jan. 15. The nominating commission may request further information or conduct an investigation of the nominees after reviewing public comments.
After the public comment period, the names will be sent to Gov. Gary Herbert, who will have 30 days to make an appointment. Herbert’s appointee is subject to confirmation by the Utah Senate.