Guv's 3rd District judge nominee withdraws

SALT LAKE CITY — Curtis Garner has withdrawn his nomination by Gov. Gary Herbert for a 3rd District Court judgeship.

Garner said in an email to associates that his "decision to withdraw is based on reasons both difficult and deeply personal," according to the governor's office.

He did not elaborate. The governor's spokeswoman, Ally Isom, said she had no further information. "That is all I know," Isom said.

Jim Hatch, a spokesman for the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole, where Garner has served since 1992, said Garner is a "private guy and he just wants to leave it at that."

Garner's term on the parole board ends in January. His announcement comes before a confirmation vote by the state Senate.

He was nominated earlier this month by the governor to replace retiring Judge Sandra Peuler. The governor is starting a new selection process to fill the vacancy.

Herbert had described Garner as having "all the experience, skills and potential necessary to be an excellent judge."

Garner served as chairman of the parole board from 2007 to 2010. He also worked as a special assistant to then-Gov. Norm Bangerter, a deputy district attorney in California and in private practice.

His undergraduate and law degrees are from Brigham Young University.

— Lisa Riley Roche, Twitter: dnewspolitics