Utah Senate confirms five judicial nominees and approves State History board appointment in extraordinary session

The Utah Senate in an eleventh extraordinary session on Dec. 18, 2020, consented to five judicial nominations from Gov. Gary R. Herbert and approved a gubernatorial appointment to the Board of State History.

Senators voted to confirm Rita Cornish to the Second District Court, Gregory Lamb to the Eighth District Court, Robert Lund to the Fourth District Court, Denise Porter to the Fourth District Court and Ronald Russell to the Second District Court. Senator Wyler told the Senate the confirmation committee had unanimously recommended the nominees after hearings; "we voted unanimously to recommend her for confirmation," he said of the first nominee. The roll calls recorded the following results: Cornish (27 yea, 0 nay, 2 absent), Lamb (27 yea, 0 nay, 2 absent), Lund (27 yea, 0 nay, 2 absent), Porter (29 yea, 0 nay, 0 absent), and Russell (29 yea, 0 nay, 0 absent).

The Senate resolved into a Committee of the Whole to allow the newly confirmed judges to speak. Judge Rita Cornish addressed the chamber and family members in the gallery, saying, "This process has been an incredibly long one, and rightly so." Judge Gregory Lamb noted he would replace the retiring Judge Edwin T. Peterson and acknowledged colleagues from his district. Judge Robert Lund, Judge Denise Porter and Judge Ronald Russell each thanked the Senate and introduced family in attendance or joining remotely.

Later in the session the Senate considered a lower-level appointment to the Board of State History. Governor Herbert transmitted Spencer Ryan Hall's appointment to fill the remainder of Paul Edwards's term and the Senate moved to waive the 30-day waiting requirement for timely action. Senator Vickers explained the waiver as appropriate given the appointment's lower level and brief interval. On the roll call the Senate consented to Hall by a vote of 24 yea, 0 nay, 5 absent.

President J. Stewart Adams recognized Sherilyn Bradford for 11½ years of service to the Senate before closing business. Senator Vickers moved to adjourn; the motion carried and the Senate adjourned. There were no recorded negative votes on the confirmations or the history board appointment.

The confirmations become effective according to the applicable judicial appointment and statutory rules; the session record shows consent votes and the judges' brief remarks to the Senate prior to adjournment.