Comments about ‘Nominees selected for judgeships’

It is riduculous that only one nominee for the Third District comes from a background in criminal law. For far too long, the governors have been appointing lawyers with civil backgrounds to preside over criminal cases. The current governor must off-set this imbalance by appointing a lawyer with a background in criminal law to the bench.

The right of the governor to appoint who he wants as a judge is one of the most important patronage perks of the office. Mike Leavitt also did not appoint judges with criminal law experience. Utah is known across the nation, even acknowledged by the US Supreme Court, as having a state supreme court that makes rules willy-nilly. That is the legacy of Leavitt, who appointed judges according to family, political and church ties, NEVER according to experience and qualifications. Ask any cop -- no one knows what the Utah supreme court will do in any case. They're just aren't consistent and they have the goofiest coalitions. Christine Durham is the most liberal justice in Utah's history and has zilch leadership ability. But she is politically connected and rich. What more did Leavitt need?

It's not all that "ridiculous" (as Whiggy asserts) that most of the judicial nominees come from practices in civil law. As long as the nominees are smart and motivated (as all of these nominees are), they'll be up to speed in both criminal and civil matters soon enough. I'd rather have a smart, fast learner than an average lawyer with criminal law expertise.

Try to at least get your facts right, Whiggy. Five of the last six appointees to the Third District have criminal law backgrounds, 3 exclusively, and two substantially. Sounds like an okay ratio to me, even if you think that area of practice is that big an issue.

Christine Durham was appointed to the State's Supreme Court by Scott Matheson, not Gov. Leavitt.

Justice Durham has recieved national recognition for her outstanding leadership skills, including the Rhenquist award named after the recent U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice. Last I heard she was not rich, except perhaps in intellectual accomplishments.