Utah Legislature: Chief justice bill receiving some tweaks

SALT LAKE CITY — A Senate bill that would give the governor power to appoint the chief justice of the Utah Supreme Court, which sparked debate among lawmakers and current Chief Justice Christine Durham, may get a few tweaks in the coming days.

Sen. Scott Jenkins, R-Plain City, the sponsor of SB109, said Wednesday he's working on adding a process whereby sitting justices could remove the governor's appointee. Another possible change, suggested by Sen. Wayne Niederhauser, R-Sandy, could put Senators in the loop of the appointment process as a confirmation body.

The bill advanced to the senate's third reading calendar Tuesday on a razor thin 15-13 vote.

See the bill at le.utah.gov/~2010/htmdoc/sbillhtm/SB0109.htm.

— Arthur Raymond