Utah Senate unanimously confirms two Third District Court nominees, consents to multiple governor appointments

The Utah State Senate confirmed two nominees to the Third District Court and consented to a series of gubernatorial appointments during a fifth extraordinary session called by Gov. Gary R. Herbert.

Senators voted by roll call to confirm Christine Johnson and Teresa Welch to the Third District Court. The first confirmation, Christine Johnson, was approved 21-0 with eight senators absent after the Judicial Confirmation Committee recommended her for the bench. "I feel incredibly honored to be standing in front of you here today," Johnson said after the vote, and she thanked her family and the governor for the opportunity.

The second confirmation, Teresa Welch, followed a unanimous committee recommendation and passed the Senate by a 22-0 roll call vote with seven senators absent. Welch, a longtime public defender and educator, told senators she was "so excited and ready to get to work," and pledged to apply the state constitution and laws impartially.

Senator Todd Wyler, the chair of the Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee, told the Senate the committee was "very impressed" with both nominees' qualifications; he described Johnson's private-practice litigation background and Welch’s public-defender experience and teaching roles.

Beyond the judicial nominations, the governor transmitted several other appointments for the Senate’s consent, including Sheila K. McLeave to the Political Subdivisions Ethics Review Commission; Abraham Lindeman to the Health Facility Committee; Gregory Todd to the Quality Growth Commission; L. Scott Baird as executive director of the Department of Environmental Quality; and Paul S. Edwards to the State History Board. The Senate consented to the slate by roll call, 20-0, with nine senators absent.

Procedural motions during the special session included adoption of the Senate rules for the extraordinary session and a temporary resolve into a Committee of the Whole to hear from the two judicial nominees. Both nominees addressed the chamber in the Committee of the Whole before the Senate reconvened and dissolved that committee.

The session concluded with an announcement about signups for opening prayers for the upcoming general session and a motion to adjourn sine die, which the Senate approved by voice vote.

Votes at a glance: Christine Johnson — Confirmed 21 ayes, 0 nays, 8 absent; Teresa Welch — Confirmed 22 ayes, 0 nays, 7 absent; Gubernatorial appointments (multiple names) — Consented 20 ayes, 0 nays, 9 absent.

The confirmations were procedural and approved by clear margins; the Senate completed its special-session agenda and adjourned the same day.