Hilder rejection shameful

The Utah Senate — or at least the 16 senators responsible — should be ashamed of their actions yesterday. Their vote against confirming Judge Hilder to the Utah Court of Appeals was indefensible and incomprehensible. To reject an applicant carefully vetted and highly recommended by a bipartisan multilateral committee, endorsed by the governor and strongly supported by those who know and practice before him not only insults Hilder, it deprives the residents of Utah of a fine, upstanding, competent jurist for no good reason. It was an affront not only to Hilder, but to you, me and every other Utah resident who supports the notions of an independent judiciary and separation of powers.

Ed Havas

Salt Lake City