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Utah Senate confirms four judicial nominees and dozens of gubernatorial appointees in June extraordinary session
Summary
In an extraordinary June 2017 session, the Utah State Senate consented to four judicial appointments — Susan Eisenman, Stephen Beck, Jennifer Valencia and Jared Eldridge — and approved a large slate of university and board appointments, including reappointments to the Department of Public Safety.
SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah State Senate convened an extraordinary session in June 2017 and consented to a slate of gubernatorial appointments, including four judges and dozens of board members and trustees.
The Senate gave unanimous consent to the governor’s nominees for several judicial seats. The chamber recorded identical roll-call tallies — 21 ayes, 0 nays, with 8 senators absent — to confirm Susan Eisenman as judge of the Third District Juvenile Court, Stephen (Steven) Beck as judge of the Third District Juvenile Court, Jennifer Valencia as judge of the Second District Court, and Jared Eldridge as judge of the Fourth District Court. Senator Todd Wyler and Senator Weiler each introduced nominees and recommended confirmation following the Judicial Confirmation Committee’s favorable reports.
Susan Eisenman, after her confirmation, introduced family members in the gallery and said she would “take this job very seriously” and “work very hard to be prepared and present as a judge in the courtroom every day.” Stephen Beck told the Senate he was “very humbled and honored” and promised to “uphold my oath,” citing his background with the Utah Juvenile Defender Attorneys.
The session also included the reading and consideration of dozens of appointments to university boards, the State Board of Regents, the Utah System of Technical Colleges (formerly UCAT), the Permanent Community Impact Fund Board, the Securities Commission, the Water Quality Board, the Wildlife Board and other boards and commissions. The governor’s messages included statutory citations (Article 8, Section 8 of the Utah Constitution and Utah Code section 78A-10-101) accompanying judicial nominations and other appointments.
Senators reported committee-level vetting: the Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee and the Education Confirmation Committee provided favorable recommendations for the nominees named in the governor’s communications. Senator Vickers and Senator Thatcher summarized committee reviews for higher-education and public-safety appointments; Senator Thatcher described the Department of Public Safety confirmation hearing as exhaustive and reported unanimous support for Commissioner Keith Squires’s reappointment.
Later in the session the Senate voted to consent to the batch of board and commission appointments read into the record. The roll call for that group resulted in 19 ayes, 0 nays, and 10 absent; the presiding officer declared consent to the governor’s appointees and reappointees.
Following the formal business, the Senate resolved into a Committee of the Whole so confirmed judges could be introduced and offer brief remarks. The extraordinary session concluded after a voice vote to adjourn.
Votes at a glance: Susan Eisenman — consented (21-0; 8 absent). Stephen Beck — consented (21-0; 8 absent). Jennifer Valencia — consented (21-0; 8 absent). Jared Eldridge — consented (21-0; 8 absent). Batch of board/commission appointments — consented (19-0; 10 absent).
The Senate’s formal record shows the appointments were transmitted by Governor Gary R. Herbert and certified by Lieutenant Governor Spencer J. Cox. The Legislature’s constitutionally authorized extraordinary session was convened to consider and act on these nominations.
