Utah Senate Confirms Two District Court Judges During Extraordinary Session

The Utah State Senate convened an extraordinary session in November 2018 and unanimously consented to two judicial appointments from Governor Gary R. Herbert. The Senate recorded 24 "aye" votes, 0 "nay," with five senators absent to confirm David Williams as a judge in the Second Judicial District and Diana Gibson as a judge in the Third Judicial District.

Senator Todd Wyler, who chaired the Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee, summarized David Williams’s background and said the committee voted unanimously to recommend his confirmation. After the roll call, President Niederhauser announced the result: "Having received 24 yay votes, 0 nay votes, 5 being absent, the Senate has consented to the governor's appointment of David Williams as district the Second District, judge." Judge Williams later thanked the Senate and introduced family members present.

Wyler also introduced Diana Gibson’s nomination, describing her professional experience in private practice and in-house counsel roles including positions at Vista Outdoors Inc. and ATK. The committee reported a unanimous recommendation and the Senate again voted 24–0 with five absent to confirm Gibson. Afterward Gibson thanked the Senate, noted that she is a naturalized U.S. citizen and pledged to approach each case with "fairness, neutrality" and to decide "based on the facts and the law as written."

Both confirmations were ceremonial and procedural votes of consent to the governor’s appointments. The session’s proclamation and committee reports were read into the record before the roll-call votes. No amendments or objections to either confirmation were recorded during the proceedings.

What happens next: Senators invited the newly confirmed judges to speak; the Senate indicated Judge Williams would speak after the next confirmation and both judges briefly addressed the body. The extraordinary session then continued with additional gubernatorial appointments and confirmations.