U.S. Senate confirms new U.S. attorney for Utah

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate has confirmed David Barlow as the new U.S. attorney for Utah.

Barlow currently works as chief counsel on the Senate Judiciary Committee for Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah. Barlow earned an undergraduate degree in political science at Brigham Young University and a law degree from Yale.

"David is a very bright student of the law who will bring Utah values to the position of U.S. attorney," said Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah.

He has argued a variety of cases, including pharmaceutical, contract, insurance, defamation, medical device, consumer and industrial products, and First Amendment issues.

Utah Democrats were critical of Barlow's nomination, saying President Barack Obama missed the opportunity to fill the job with a Democrat. Utah went nearly two years without a presidentially appointed U.S. attorney since Brett Tolman resigned.

Barlow will replace Carlie Christensen who has been serving in that role.

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