KUER
Gov. Gary Herbert has appointed Margaret Plane to the state Court of Appeals. But time is running out for the state Senate to confirm her.
In Utah, it takes about six months for a judicial nominating commission to vet, interview and narrow down candidates for court vacancies.
Kim Cordova, who is tasked with staffing the nominating commission, said the job is too important not to be thorough.
“We have to know good, bad, ugly, everything, the positives and negatives,” Cordova said. “We want to make sure that the very best candidates are selected for judicial appointment.”
Enter Margaret Plane. She was one of seven people Gov. Gary Herbert interviewed for the court of appeals out of around 30 who applied.
Paul C. Burke: Utah Senate blockade threatens judicial independence
Refusal to hear the nomination of Margaret Plane verges on a violation of the Utah Constitution.
(Photo courtesy of Salt Lake City) Margaret Plane, who was the Salt Lake City attorney under Mayor Ralph Becker.
By Paul C. Burke | Special to The Tribune
| Dec. 14, 2020, 2:07 p.m. | Updated: 6:16 p.m.
The Utah Senate’s current blockade of a nominee to the Utah Court of Appeals is not merely an affront to Gov. Gary Herbert and the nominee. It also is a threat to the integrity of our state’s merit system for selecting judges and risks undermining the independence of Utah’s judiciary.