A bill that would empower the governor to appoint the chief justice of the Supreme Court every six years narrowly survived a preliminary vote in the Senate on Tuesday.
After robust discussion about Majority Leader Scott Jenkins' SB109, senators voted 15-13 to allow it to advance to a final vote in the chamber later this week. Some senators voted "aye on two," meaning they haven't fully committed to supporting the bill in the final Senate test.
"The current process poisons the well of the [Utah] Supreme Court," Jenkins told his colleagues. "Fourteen other states prefer this method and so do I."
Senate Minority Leader Pat Jones, D-Holladay, argued that the high court should choose its own leader.
"What problem are you trying to fix?" Jones asked Jenkins.
Sen. Ben McAdams, D-Salt Lake City, also argued against the measure.
"This bill diminishes the status of a co-equal branch of government," McAdams said.
In explaining his opposition to SB109, Sen. Steve Urquhart, R-St. George, called the measure unnecessary.
"I think our judiciary is functioning well," Urquhart said, "and the balance between the branches is good. I don't see that this improves anything."
Republican Sens. Curt Bramble, Lyle Hillyard, Dan Liljenquist and Allen Christensen joined Urquhart and all eight Democrats in voting against SB109.
