Gov. Gary R. Herbert has appointed Judge Constandinos G. Himonas to serve as an associate justice on the Utah Supreme Court.
Judge Himonas will fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Utah Supreme Court Justice Ronald E. Nehring on Feb. 1, 2015.
“It is an honor for me to appoint Judge Deno Himonas to the Utah Supreme Court,” said Gov. Herbert. “Making a selection of this importance is a responsibility I take very seriously. I look for a person with integrity, intelligence, experience and a great sense of respect for the responsibility of the position. I am confident that Judge Himonas possesses all of these qualities and that he is the right choice.”
Judge Himonas currently serves as a trial judge in the 3rd District Court for the State of Utah. He was appointed to his position in 2004. In this capacity, he has presided over complex civil, criminal and domestic proceedings as well as a felony drug court program. He has presided over more than 100 jury trials and countless bench proceedings. Judge Himonas currently serves as the associate presiding judge for the 3rd District.
“For the past ten years, I have had the privilege of working for the people of this state as a district court judge,” said Himonas. “In that capacity, something I have always tried to remember is that the cases we hear as judges represent either the most important thing going on in the lives of the people in front of us, or one of the most important things. Consequently, I have endeavored to give those cases the full measure of my abilities. And, if confirmed, I commit to this degree of dedication–certainly one the people deserve.”
Judge Himonas was raised in Price, Utah and graduated from Carbon High School. Prior to his service in the 3rd District Court, Judge Himonas was an attorney and shareholder at Jones Waldo Holbrook & McDonough (1989-2004) where he was involved in a wide variety of complex civil litigation. He has served as an adjunct associate professor at the S.J. Quinney College of Law at the University of Utah (2009-13).
Judge Himonas received his juris doctor degree from the University of Chicago Law School and his bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Utah, where he graduated magna cum laude.
Judge Himonas is currently a fellow of the American Bar Foundation, a member of the Judicial Conduct Commission, and co-chair of the 3rd District Court Pro Bono Commission. He previously served as the chair of the executive committee of the litigation section of the Utah State Bar, a member of the Federal Bar Association Executive Committee, a member of the Salt Lake Bar Association Executive Committee and a member of the Utah Supreme Court Advisory Committee on Judicial Canons.
The governor’s appointment of Judge Himonas is subject to confirmation by the Utah Senate.
