This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Gov. Gary Herbert has tapped Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard D. McKelvie to fill a vacancy on the 3rd District Court bench left by Judge Anthony Quinn, who died late last year.
"Richard is recognized as one of the state's premier trial attorneys and is uniquely qualified to serve as a district court judge," Herbert said in a statement released Friday afternoon. "The breadth of his legal expertise in criminal and trial law, combined with his keen intellect, will serve the residents of the 3rd Judicial District well."
McKelvie, who has served as an assistant United States attorney with assignments in narcotics and violent crimes, has been a prosecutor for 32 years.
He is a graduate of Weber State University, where he studied political science, and received his law degree from the University of Utah in 1981.
McKelvie won a College of Law Excellence in Teaching Award in 2011 for his work as a law professor at the S.J. Quinney College of Law at the U.
He also serves on the board of directors for Intermountain Therapy Animals and the Granite School District Academy board. Additionally, McKelvie is the federal representative on the Utah Criminal and Juvenile Justice Commission.
"I am honored by Gov. Herbert's confidence in me as a Third District Court judge," McKelvie said in the statement. "I look forward to serving the people and communities of our state. I will strive to uphold the court's long tradition of dignity, integrity and equal justice."
The Utah Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee is seeking public comment on the nominee from now until April 18.
Those who would like to comment on McKelvie's nomination have been asked to contact Mike Christensen at the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel. They have been asked to provide their name, telephone number and mailing address.
The Senate committee will then hold a public hearing and issue a recommendation to the full body before the Senate can vote on McKelvie's nomination.
If accepted onto the bench, McKelvie will preside as a judge in Utah's 3rd District Court, which serves Salt Lake, Tooele and Summit counties.
Quinn's position has been vacant since he was killed on Oct. 24 while riding his bike in Mill Creek Canyon.
A distracted driver crashed into Quinn, 60, who had been riding his bike up the canyon in mid-afternoon.
Quinn was appointed to the 3rd District Court in September 1997 by then-Gov. Mike Leavitt. He served Salt Lake, Summit and Tooele counties. Quinn received a law degree in 1980 from Brigham Young University, where he served as Note and Comment editor of the law review.
In addition to his work as a judge, Quinn acted as an adjunct professor at Westminster College. He served on the Supreme Court Advisory Committee on the Rules of Civil Procedure, the Executive Committee of the Salt Lake Area Safe at Home Coalition and the Board of District Court Judges.
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