Utah Gov. Gary Herbert has appointed Su J. Chon and James T. Blanch to the 3rd District Court, which serves Salt Lake, Summit, and Tooele counties.

"Both Su J. Chon and James T. Blanch have extensive experience and outstanding expertise that will well serve the 3rd District Court and the people of Utah" said Herbert. "Both are stellar individuals and have strived through their prestigious careers to serve the greater community and State of Utah."

Chon is an attorney for the state Office of Property Rights Ombudsman (OPRO). In addition to her membership in the American and Utah Bar Associations, Chon is a member of the Utah Minority Bar Association and is experienced in real estate law. Before joining the OPRO, Chon was an attorney at Callister Nebeker & McCullough of Salt Lake City.

Chon is currently serving as a commissioner of the Utah State Bar. Chon has previously volunteered as the executive director over the Multi-Cultural Legal Center and received multiple awards from institutions such as the Utah State Bar and Utah Business magazine. Chon got her law degree from Brigham Young University's J. Reuben Clark Law School.

Blanch is a civil litigation attorney with Parsons Behle & Latimer and an adjunct associate professor at the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law. Blanch has served on the Utah Supreme Court Advisory Committee on the Rules of Civil Procedure since 1999 and in various roles with the Salt Lake County Bar Association.

In addition to receiving recognition from Utah Business magazine and Martindale-Hubbell, Blanch has been published by the Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy and the American Bar Association. Blanch got his law degree from Harvard Law School.

Chon and Blanch have been appointed to replace Judges Peuler and Medley, who are retiring.

Judicial appointments are subject to confirmation by the Utah State Senate.