Bill > SB0296

This bill modifies the process for selecting and serving as chief justice of the Utah Supreme Court, changing the method of selection from an internal election by justices to an appointment by the governor with Senate confirmation. Specifically, the bill removes the previous provision allowing justices to elect a chief justice among themselves and instead requires the governor to appoint a chief justice from among the Supreme Court members, subject to Senate advice and consent. The term of the chief justice remains four years, and justices can serve successive terms through reappointment. If a chief justice is not appointed within 30 days of a vacancy, the associate chief justice (or the most senior justice) will serve as an interim chief justice until a new chief justice is appointed and confirmed. The bill also retains existing provisions about the Supreme Court's composition (five justices) and the additional compensation for the chief justice ($2,000 per year) and associate chief justice ($1,000 per year). The bill is set to take effect on May 7, 2025, and represents a shift in the governance structure of Utah's highest court by introducing executive branch involvement in the selection of its leadership.

Justice

https://le.utah.gov/~2025/bills/static/SB0296.html