Senate Majority Leader Scott Jenkins has abandoned his effort to give the governor the authority to appoint the chief justice of the Utah Supreme Court.

Jenkins had been struggling to get the votes he needed in the Senate and still faced uncertain prospects in the House.

The judiciary officially opposed the bill, with the majority of the Supreme Court justices resisting the change. Departing Justice Michael Wilkins was the only one who thought Jenkins' proposal was a good idea.

Currently, the five justices elect the chief justice themselves.

Rather than fighting the courts, Jenkins decided he would drop the chief justice bill. In exchange, the judiciary said it would support another bill, which seeks to set deadlines for the appointment of judicial replacements.

"I just thought, 'Look, why fight it?'" Jenkins said.