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SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Governor's Office released the official nominees for the 5th and 6th District Court vacancies Friday.
According to the judicial nominating commission, there are four steps in Utah's merit selection plan.
The first step is an official nomination by a judicial nomination commission. These nominees include lawyers and non-lawyers. Next, the governor must conduct interviews and appoint a nominee to the vacancy. That nominee must then be approved by the Utah Senate before taking office. Judges then undergo a retention evaluation after completion of their term.
Nominees for 5th District Court
There are two vacancies on the 5th District Court, following the retirement of Judge Eric A. Ludlow on Oct. 1, and the appointment of Judge Ann Marie McIff Allen to the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah on April 15.
According to a release from the governor's office, the nominees for the vacancies are:
- Meb Anderson, assistant attorney general, education division director for the Utah Attorney General's Office
- Ryan Christiansen, attorney/section director for the Utah Attorney General's Office.
- Chad Dotson, county attorney for the Iron County Attorney's Office.
- K. Jake Graff, managing partner at Graff Van, PLLC, Justice Court Judge for Santa Clara and Hildale.
- Susan Hunt, instructor of the practice at Utah Tech University.
- Ejay Overson, assistant professor at Southern Utah University, and owner of Overson Legal & Mediation, PLLC.
Nominees for 6th District Court
There is one vacancy on the 6th District Court, following the retirement of Judge Marvin D. Bagley on Sept. 30.
According to a release from the governor's office, the nominees for the vacancy are:
- Kent Burggraaf, city attorney for the city of Kanab, attorney with Kent. A. Burggraaf, attorney at law.
- Arek Butler, assistant attorney general for the Utah Attorney General's Office.
- Jeffrey Makin — senior vice president, legal for Sunru.
- Michael Mathie — attorney for Mathie Law, associate general counsel for TaxHawk Inc.
- Robert Van Dyke — county attorney for Kane County.
Written comments can be submitted to the 5th and 6th District Judicial Nominating Commissions at judicialvacancies@utah.gov, or Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice, P.O. Box 142330, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-2330.
The deadline for written comments is Aug. 12 at noon. After the deadline, the names will be sent to Gov. Spencer Cox, who will have 30 days to make an appointment.
Cox's appointees are subject to confirmation by the Utah Senate.
