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While growing up, Deno Himonas considered becoming a Greek Orthodox priest. When he told his mother, she said he could be anything he wanted to be — as long as it was a doctor or a lawyer.

So Himonas made what he calls "the immigrant's choice" and, after ruling out medicine, settled on the law. That choice has taken him from law school to private practice to a 3rd District judgeship and, finally, to a spot on the Utah Supreme Court.

On Wednesday, Himonas joined Utah's high court, filling a vacancy created by Justice Ronald Nehring's retirement. He became the first Greek-American on the Utah Supreme Court and, currently, its only non-Mormon justice.

"I loved the district court, but I think change is invigorating," said Himonas, who served on the 3rd District bench for more than a decade.

Groups of relatives, friends and members of the legal community were there to witness Himonas' investiture. Missing was the new justice's mother, Chris Himonas, who died in 2011.

"My biggest disappointment was that she wasn't here," Himonas said of his mom, who he suspects would have let him follow his passion, whatever that turned out to be.

His father, George, said his son is a hard worker and that the family is proud of him.

"He listened to us, especially to his mother," George Himonas said. "I'm sure she's watching."

Learning and earning • Himonas, 50, an only child of "incredibly loving parents," was born and reared in Price. His family had a ranch in Carbon and Emery counties, where he spent countless hours on horseback, corralling cattle and mending fences, and his mother opened a beauty salon in the 1970s.

Neither parent had graduated from high school. George Himonas, who was born in the United States, lost his own father at age 5 and dropped out of school at an early age to support the family. Although George couldn't continue his own education, his four younger brothers all graduated from college.

Chris Himonas, the youngest of nine children, grew up in occupied war-torn Greece. She, too, had to discontinue her education prematurely to go to work. She immigrated in the 1950s to Canada and then to the United States. She married George in 1962 in Price.

Though the couple had to cut short their own school pursuits, both prized education and encouraged their son to study hard. Deno learned to juggle classes, Greek lessons, ranch chores, a second job and other activities.

"This work ethic is certainly one of the greatest gifts my parents gave me," said Himonas, who described his mother as a feisty, independent woman and called his father his hero.

At Carbon High, Himonas discovered debate — and loved it — leading to his decision to enter the legal field. He earned a degree in economics from the University of Utah in 1986 and his law degree from the University of Chicago in 1989.

He met his wife, Lisa, in Chicago. The two have been married for more than 25 years. They have two daughters, 19-year-old Katherine and 21-year-old Alexandra, both college students.

After law school, Himonas returned to Utah and spent 15 years working for the law firm of Jones Waldo Holbrook & McDonough, where he focused on complex civil litigation. He enjoyed his work but turned his sights to the bench.

"I often said I don't want my tombstone to read, 'He made a lot of money practicing law,' '' Himonas said. "I felt a call to serve our community and thought the best way I could do that is to put my skills to use on the trial bench."

Warming the bench • He applied for a 3rd District Court opening and was picked for the bench in 2004 by then-Gov. Olene Walker. Himonas oversaw thousands of criminal and civil cases, including more than 100 jury trials, during his time as a trial court judge.

He sentenced Alan Lee Marx in January to a one-to-15-year prison term in the cold-case beating death of Ward "Hank" Woolverton in 1997 and five years to life for aggravated robbery.

He oversaw the case of Jorge Martin Benvenuto for the 1996 shooting of Zachary Snarr and Yvette Rodier, 18-year-olds who were photographing the moon at Little Dell Reservoir. Benvenuto struck a plea deal in the case to take the death penalty off the table.

Some light moments came during his time in 3rd District Court as well. A boy touring the court with his class once asked Himonas if anyone had ever told him he looked like Robert Downey Jr. (You've seen the pictures; you be the judge.) After he put a public official behind bars, an elderly woman called Himonas' home and said she wanted $100. She had bet someone that no judge would jail the official and believed Himonas owed her. (She didn't collect.)

In his spare time, Himonas plays squash, sometimes four or five times a week.

He also likes skiing, hiking, golfing, fly fishing and yoga.

Himonas' parents moved to Salt Lake City in 2008 to be near the family, and the justice sees his father almost every day. With their daughters attending out-of-state universities, Himonas and his wife, who is the assistant dean for development for the University of Utah's College of Social Work, are now empty nesters.

Supreme challenge • In December, Gov. Gary Herbert nominated Himonas to the high court. The governor has said he did not ask Himonas about his political views and that there were no litmus tests. The justice is registered as an unaffiliated voter.

"He's a man not only of integrity but a man of hard work," Herbert said, "and it's hard work to be on the Supreme Court."

Colleagues also cite Himonas' work ethic, as well as his legal skills and his judicial commitment.

"He represented his clients very effectively but made friends with people on the other side," said Jim Jardine, an attorney at Ray Quinney & Nebeker, who has opposed Himonas in court cases. "He was a very fair advocate. As a judge, I think his innate humanity showed all the time. People of all circumstances coming into his court would feel that they got his full attention and care."

Utah Court of Appeals Judge John Pearce, who worked with Himonas at Jones Waldo, said the state's newest justice is bright and related well with juries.

"He has a great ability," Pearce said, "to size up a situation and explain it."

Himonas has plenty of hometown supporters, too.

Price Mayor Joe Piccolo, who has known the Himonas family for years, was not surprised by the nomination and said Deno was the perfect candidate for the job.

Utah's Greek-American community takes particular pleasure in his appointment, turning out in large numbers for his confirmation hearing before a Senate committee.

"I'm just trying to keep my senatorial dignity as my Greek blood swells with tremendous pride," said Sen. Jim Dabakis, D-Salt Lake City, a committee member.

At the hearing, Himonas declined to give an opinion on specific legal issues and said he makes decisions by studying the language of a statute and, if there is any ambiguity, the history of the statute.

"Any other approach," he said, "is an invitation to judicial overreach."

The Utah Senate confirmed Himonas in a 27-0 vote.

"This is a story of success," the confirmation committee chairman, Sen. Scott Jenkins, R-Plain City, said, "and it's our privilege to be part of it."

And it's Himonas' privilege to provide it, thanks to that "immigrant's choice" he made so many years ago.

Twitter: @PamelaMansonSLC