Federal prosecutor Jeannette F. Swent is one of six people selected by the Utah Supreme Court Nominating Commission as candidates to replace retiring Justice Michael J. Wilkins, The Associated Press reported Wednesday. Wilkins will retire May 15.
Swent is the chief of the civil division at the Utah U.S. Attorney’s office. She was previously a candidate for a Utah Appeals Court vacancy in November 2009, but Gov. Gary Herbert (R) selected another candidate as the nominee.
The other fives nominees include David M. Connors, a state judge in Utah’s 2nd District; Royal I. Hansen, a state judge in Utah’s 3rd District; David Mortensen, a state judge in Utah’s 4th District; Thomas R. Lee, a lawyer and professor at Brigham Young University; and Carolyn B. McHugh, a Utah Appeals Court Judge.
The public now has 10 days to comment before the names are formally submitted to Herbert. After the comment period, Herbert will have 30 days to select a candidate. The state Senate must then vote within 60 days on whether to approve the nomination.
