The Utah Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee is seeking public comment on Jill M. Pohlman, current Court of Appeals Judge, who Gov. Spencer J. Cox appointed to serve as a Justice on the Utah Supreme Court.
Just as the U.S. Senate confirms appointments made by the president, the Utah Senate confirms appointments made by the governor for Utah’s highest court. Once the governor has selected a candidate who will best serve the needs of Utahns, the Senate Judiciary Confirmation Committee holds committee hearings in which the appointee offers statements and answer questions from the committee members. After the hearing, the committee votes on whether to recommend confirmation of the appointee by the full Senate.
“It is an immense responsibility to properly vet judicial appointments with the utmost diligence,” said Sen. Todd Weiler, chair of the Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee. “I look forward to reviewing Judge Pohlman’s experiences, particularly as an appellate judge, to understand more about her judicial philosophy.”
Those who desire to comment on the individual appointed should contact the Utah Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee staff, Jonathan Adams at the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel, by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 13, 2022, at the Utah State Capitol, House Building, Suite W210, PO Box 145210, Salt Lake City, Utah 84114-5210. All statements should include the respondent’s name, telephone number and mailing address.
The Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee will hold a public hearing, then issue a recommendation to the full Senate. If confirmed by the Senate, Judge Pohlman will fill the vacancy left by Justice Thomas R. Lee, whose retirement is effective July 31, 2022.
The Utah Supreme Court has jurisdiction to review state law. The state’s highest court has appellate jurisdiction to hear first-degree and capital felony convictions from the District Courts and judgments of the Court of Appeals by writ of certiorari. Additionally, the Utah Supreme Court reviews formal administrative proceedings of various state commissions, adopts civil and criminal procedure rules and rules of evidence for use in the state courts and governs the practice of law in Utah.
