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Former county clerk recalls child-marriage case that prompted House Bill 77
Summary
Sherry Swenson said an early incident during her tenure—a 14-year-old brought from Texas who married a 56-year-old man—led her to seek legislative change that she said became House Bill 77; she described securing a sponsor and said the change took effect the next legislative session.
Sherry Swenson, former Salt Lake County clerk, recounted an incident early in her tenure that she said motivated her to push for a change in state law. Swenson said that three months into her time as clerk a 14-year-old girl, three days past her 14th birthday, was brought from Texas and married a 56-year-old man; she said the experience left her ‘‘heartsick.’’
Swenson said she contacted a legislator she knew to sponsor a bill; she told the audience it took until the next legislative session for the change to occur and identified the measure as House Bill 77. ‘‘So, that was a sad thing, but it made a big difference,’’ she said, and described that legislative change as one of the achievements she is most proud of.
The transcript records Swenson’s personal account of the case and her role in securing a sponsor for the measure. No further details about the bill’s text, the sponsor’s name, legislative votes, or implementation specifics were included in the remarks.
