U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas to swear in newest Utah Supreme Court member, Thomas Lee

SALT LAKE CITY — U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas will be in Utah July 19 to swear in the newest member of the Utah Supreme Court, Thomas R. Lee.

Lee, a BYU professor who at one time clerked for Thomas and 4th District Circuit Court of Appeals Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III, was appointed by Utah Gov. Gary R. Herbert for the position. The state Senate unanimously confirmed Lee in June.

Thomas will be the keynote speaker for the Utah State Bar summer convention in Sun Valley, Idaho, and then will travel to Utah to swear in Lee, Nancy Volmer, spokeswoman for the Utah State Courts, told the Deseret News Wednesday.

Lee has earned a national reputation as an appellate lawyer, arguing cases before appeals courts nationwide and the U.S. Supreme Court. His expertise lies in intellectual property, copyright and trademark litigation, and he has represented automakers such as Porsche, Volkswagen and Ford. He also has represented Utah in several matters, including a challenge to the results of the 2000 Census.

— Lana Groves