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Utah Senate holds ninth extraordinary session and confirms judicial nominees and dozens of gubernatorial appointees
Summary
In a one-day extraordinary session in June 2010, the Utah State Senate confirmed three judicial nominees — Robert J. Dale, M. James Brady and Thomas R. Lee — and approved a slate of other board and agency appointments; the Senate also resolved into a Committee of the Whole so the newly confirmed judges could address members.
SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah State Senate convened in a ninth extraordinary session in June 2010 to consider and consent to appointments made by Gov. Gary R. Herbert, confirming three judges and approving multiple other gubernatorial nominees.
Senators adopted the standing rules for the 58th Legislature as governing rules for the special session before taking up confirmations. The Senate then took up judicial confirmations transmitted by the governor and recommended by the Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee.
The Senate consented to Robert J. Dale’s appointment as a judge of the Second District Court. After a committee recommendation and a floor motion to confirm, the chair announced the vote and said Mr. Dale had been confirmed by the Senate. "I appreciate so much the vigor with which this process occurs in the state of Utah," Dale told members, adding that he viewed the appointment as a "privilege and an opportunity" and spoke of his 34 years of practice.
The Senate next confirmed M. James Brady to the Fourth District Court. Jenkins, reporting the committee’s work, said the committee had interviewed Brady and found no improprieties; the motion to confirm carried on a roll-call vote and senators congratulated Mr. Brady on his confirmation. Brady thanked the governor, committee members and his family and supporters in the gallery.
The Senate also confirmed Thomas R. Lee as a justice of the Utah Supreme Court. The Judicial Confirmation Committee reported a favorable recommendation, and after a motion to confirm the Senate recorded the vote and announced that Mr. Lee had been confirmed. Tom Lee addressed the body, thanked the appellate nominating commission and the governor, and pledged to "honor the oath" and the limited, important role of the courts.
Following the confirmations, the Senate resolved into a Committee of the Whole to hear brief addresses from the three newly confirmed judges. Each spoke to senators and introduced family and supporters present in the gallery. After the remarks, the Senate dissolved the Committee of the Whole and returned to the floor.
The clerk then read additional communications from the governor proposing a range of appointments to state boards and commissions, including reappointments and a nomination to serve as Executive Director of the Department of Human Services. The Health and Human Services Confirmation Committee reported favorably on Palmer De Paulos, and senators discussed concerns related to rural representation on regional boards before proceeding to a roll-call vote on the full slate.
The Senate recorded the final confirmation tally for the package of nominees as reported on the floor. With no further business, the Senate moved to adjourn, "sign a die," and the extraordinary session concluded the same day.
The Senate’s actions in this special session were procedural consents to executive nominations; no new legislation was introduced or enacted during the session.
