Salt Lake City, UT---The Court of Appeals Nominating Commission has selected seven nominees for a vacancy in the Court of Appeals. The position will replace Judge Judith Billings who has announced her retirement effective Dec. 31, 2008.
The nominees are listed as follows: Scott Daniels, self-employed arbitrator and mediator, Salt Lake City; Judge Robert K. Hilder, Third District Court, Park City; Judge Thomas L. Kay, Second District Court, Bountiful; Keith A. Kelly, shareholder and associate with Ray Quinney & Nebeker, Salt Lake City; Judge Anthony B. Quinn, Third District Court, Salt Lake City; Jeanette F. Swent, Assistant U.S. Attorney, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Salt Lake City; and J. Frederic Voros, Jr., division chief, Criminal Appeals, Utah Attorney General’s Office, Salt Lake City.
A 10-day public comment period will be held before the names are submitted to Gov. Jon M. Huntsman. Court of Appeals Nominating Commission Chair Von Keetch is accepting written comments regarding the nominees at Administrative Office of the Courts, P.O. Box 140241, Salt Lake City, UT, 84114-0241. The deadline for written comments is 5 p.m. on Monday, August 4, 2008.
The commission may request further interviews or an investigation of the nominees after reviewing public comments. After the public comment period, the names will be sent to the Governor who has 30 days to select a candidate. The Governor’s nominee is then forwarded to the Senate Confirmation Committee, which reviews the nominee’s qualifications and conducts a public hearing and interview session. The Senate Confirmation Committee will forward the final nominee to the Utah State Senate, which has 60 days from the Governor’s nomination to confirm the nominee.