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Matthew Durrant reelected as chief justice of Utah Supreme Court

(Rick Egan | Tribune file photo) Matthew B. Durrant, Chief Justice of the Utah Supreme Court and Chair of the Utah Judicial Council, gives his State of the Judiciary Address in the House of Representatives on Jan. 28, 2019. The court just reelected him as chief justice.

  | April 7, 2020, 4:32 a.m.
| Updated: 9:44 p.m.

Utah Supreme Court Justice Matthew B. Durrant has been elected to serve a third term as chief justice by a unanimous vote of his fellow justices.

Once elected by a vote of the justices, the chief justice serves a four-year term. The chief justice presides over the Utah Supreme Court, as well as the Utah Judicial Council, which oversees the administrative operations of Utah state courts.

In a message to all court staff and judges, Durrant expressed his appreciation:

“The events of the last three weeks [during the COVID-19 pandemic] have been extraordinary and the work of our court employees and judges has also been extraordinary,” he said. “We know that each of you is doing your best, and we cannot ask for more. The judicial branch of government is open for business thanks to your hard work.”

Durrant was appointed to the Utah Supreme Court in January 2000 by Gov. Mike Leavitt. He succeeded Christine Durham as chief justice in 2012.

Before his appointment to the Utah Supreme Court, Durrant served as a trial judge in the 3rd Judicial District. He received his law degree from Harvard Law School in 1984.