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Utah Senate Consents to Two Judicial Appointments, Approves Multiple Gubernatorial Picks in Extraordinary Session
Summary
In an extraordinary session July 16, 2014, the Utah State Senate unanimously consented to the appointments of Roger Griffin (Fourth District) and Brandon Maynard (First District) as district court judges and approved a package of other gubernatorial appointments by recorded votes.
The Utah State Senate met in an eighth extraordinary session on July 16, 2014, and consented to several of Governor Gary R. Herbert's recent appointments, including the confirmations of Roger Griffin to the Fourth District Court and Brandon Maynard to the First District Court. President Niederhauser announced the roll-call outcomes after recorded votes.
The confirmations were swift and largely uncontroversial. The Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee reported favorably on Roger Griffin, and Senator Scott K. Jenkins moved to consent. After senators voiced endorsements, President Niederhauser announced, "By a vote of 26 yays, 0 nays, the Senate has consented to the governor's appointment of Judge Robert Roger Griffin." Judge Griffin later addressed the chamber and pledged to uphold the law, telling senators he would "work hard and follow the rule of law as this appointment of the judge allows me to do so." Senator Jenkins had described Griffin as "a pleasant individual who was well educated and capable."
The chamber followed a similar process for Brandon Maynard. The governor's July communication transmitted Maynard's nomination and the confirmation committee reported a favorable recommendation. After senators spoke in support, the Senate consented to Maynard by recorded voice: "By a vote of 26 yeas and 0 nays, 3 being absent, the Senate has consented to the governor's appointment of Judge Brandon Maynard." Maynard addressed the body and thanked his family and supporters, saying, "I plan on doing the very best that I can for the people of the First District."
Beyond the judicial confirmations, the Senate read and approved a series of additional gubernatorial appointments to state boards and commissions, including nominees to the Utah Science, Technology and Research governing authority, the Quality Growth Commission, university boards of trustees, the Utah State Retirement Board, and multiple childcare center licensing committee positions. Senator Stevenson moved to consent to the package; the clerk recorded a vote and President Niederhauser announced the Senate consented "with a vote of 24 yays, 0 nays, and 5 being absent." Several appointees named in the communications included Derek B. Miller (Utah Science, Technology and Research), Aaron Mendenhall and Jack Thomas (Quality Growth Commission), and Christian K. Gardner and Thomas Wright (university trustees).
The Senate also adopted the Senate Rules for the extraordinary session by voice vote, appointed members to wait upon the governor's representative, read an official citation honoring Norma Carr on her retirement as Salt Lake Community College athletic director, and resolved into a Committee of the Whole to hear remarks from the newly confirmed judges. The Senate adjourned sine die later in the session.
The confirmations were conducted pursuant to the governor's proclamation calling the eighth extraordinary session and the statutory procedures cited in communications (references to Article 8, Section 8 of the Utah Constitution and provisions of Utah Code regarding appointments were read into the record). The session record shows unanimous or near-unanimous consent on the confirmed nominations; the Senate did not record any nay votes on the confirmations presented during this session.
