S.B. 109 Elicits Strong Opposition From Bar Commission
Friday, 05 February 2010 16:52
Rod Snow, Clyde Snow President and Utah State Bar Commissioner, took part in a unanimous Commission vote January 29 to oppose Senate Bill 109, legislation which would allow the governor to unilaterally appoint the Chief Justice of the Utah Supreme Court.
According to Snow, the bill would compromise foundational principles of the United States government.
"It is a bedrock principle of our democracy that we have a strong check-and-balance system within our government," Snow said. "The Judiciary is not a division of the legislative branch; the Judiciary is the third independent branch of our government and, as the interpreter of our laws and adjudicator of our disputes, must be kept free from the potential for political pressure or influence."
Bar President Stephen W. Owens addressed the Utah State Senate Judiciary Committee in a formal letter giving the Commission's reasons for opposing the new legislation and asking the Committee for support.
"We ask you to oppose this bill because it is bad policy that infringes upon the separation of powers and because the current system is not broken and does not need repair," Owens said in a statement to the Committee.
At this point, S.B. 109 remains in the Senate following introduction. To check the current status of S.B. 109, visit the Utah State Legislature Web site.