Commission selects nominees for 7th District Court vacancy

By Sun Advocate

The judicial nominating commission has selected three potential candidates to fill an upcoming vacancy in the 7th District Court bench.
The individual nominated by the governor and confirmed by the Utah Senate to occupy a position on the 7th District Court will replace Judge Bryce K. Bryner, who announced his retirement effective January 2006.
The 7th Judicial District encompasses Carbon, Emery, Grand and San Juan counties.
The committee interviewed applicants on Oct. 18 and selected three nominees to replace Judge Bryner on the district court bench.
The candidates include private practice attorney Samuel Chiara of Price, deputy Carbon County attorney George Harmond Jr. of Helper and chief deputy Emery County attorney Brent Langston of Ferron.
A 10-day public comment period will be conducted before the names of the three attorneys named by the committee are officially forwarded to Gov. Jon Huntsman, indicated the Utah Administrative Office of the Courts.
To submit comments regarding the committee’s nominees, Carbon County residents should address written statements to Commission Chair Sam Singleton, c/o Administrative Office of the Courts, P.O. Box 140241, Salt Lake City, UT, 84114-0241.
Comments must be received by 5 p.m. on Oct. 28.
The commission may request additional interviews or an investigation of the nominees after reviewing public comments.
Once the public comment period concludes, the names of the three nominees selected by the commission will be sent to the governor for consideration.
Huntsman will have 30 days to select one candidate to nominate to occupy the 7th District Court vacancy.
The governor’s nominee will be forwarded to the Utah Senate confirmation committee.
The confirmation committee will review the nominee’s qualifications, schedule a public hearing and conduct an interview session.
The confirmation committee will forward the name of the final nominee to the Utah Senate. The Senate will then have 60 days from the governor’s nomination to confirm the candidate to fill the vacated 7th District Court judge position.