Carolyn McHugh, Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.'s nomination to fill a vacant judiciary position on the Utah Court of Appeals, received a vote of approval Friday from the Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee.

McHugh, who graduated from the University of Utah law school in 1982, has spent more than 20 years as an attorney with the Salt Lake City firm Parr Waddoups Brown Gee & Loveless, where she said she specialized in "complex civil litigation."

Committee members expressed some concern about McHugh's lack of experience with criminal law but said they believed she would be "a great asset to the bench."

"She's smart and she's hardworking," said Sen. Patrice Arent, D-Murray. "Decisions of the court have a huge impact and we need smart people making those decisions. I think she'll make a great addition to the Court of Appeals."

The committee will recommend that the senate confirm McHugh July 20.