McHugh, 47, has practiced at Salt Lake City's Parr Waddoups Brown Gee & Loveless since 1983 and focuses on commercial litigation and environmental law.

On Tuesday, McHugh cited two decades of experience as giving her a practical perspective to bring to the seven-member court. She said she is "humbled and honored" by the appointment, which marks Huntsman's first judicial pick.

McHugh has "the right combination of intellect, temperament, and the ability to build consensus," Huntsman said in a statement. One of his advisors, executive director of Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice Michele Christiansen, said McHugh stood out among the nominees.

"She will have the right sort of temperament because the Court of Appeals sits in panels of three to hear cases, and everyone who recommended her mentioned she has been a consensus builder," said Christiansen.

McHugh's persistence also appears to have paid off. She made a short list of judicial nominees five times under former Gov. Mike Leavitt - the last in 2000 for an opening on the Court of Appeals that was instead filled by William A. Thorne Jr. Four other times she was nominated for positions on the district court bench.

McHugh earned her law degree from the University of Utah, and clerked with Utah federal judge Bruce S. Jenkins before joining her firm. She has volunteered to represent clients in domestic and family law cases, and the interests of children in court as a volunteer guardian ad litem.

McHugh is a member of the St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Parish at the Newman Center and the mother of two teenage sons. She has served on the Utah State and Salt Lake County Bar Commissions, and as co-chair of the American Bar Association's Annual Conference on Environmental Law.

The Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee will conduct a public hearing and interview with McHugh in July. She must then be voted into office by the full Senate. McHugh would replace Norman H. Jackson, who retires in August after 18 years on the court.

While Huntsman's predecessor left his stamp on the Utah Supreme Court - all but Chief Justice Christine M. Durham are Leavitt appointees - Huntsman could influence the course of the Court of Appeals during his term.

"I do think that the Court of Appeals is where his legacy is going to come from," said Christiansen Tuesday.

Other nominees for the position were: attorney Carol Clawson, former legislator and judge Scott J. Daniels, Assistant Attorney General Laura B. Dupaix, 3rd District Judge Robert K. Hilder, 2nd District Judge Thomas L. Kay and 4th District Judge Anthony W. Schofield.