Nominees announced for vacancies in Fifth, Sixth District Courts

SALT LAKE CITY — The Governor’s Office released the official nominees for the Fifth and Sixth District Court vacancies Friday.

According to the judicial nominating commission, there are four steps in Utah’s merit selection plan.

The first step is an official nomination by a judicial nomination commission. These nominees include lawyers and non-lawyers. Next, the governor must conduct interviews, and appoint a nominee to the vacancy. That nominee must then be approved by the Utah Senate before taking office. Judges then undergo a retention evaluation after completion of their term.

Nominees for Fifth District Court

There are two vacancies on the Fifth District Court, following the retirement of Judge Eric A. Ludlow on October 1, 2024, and the appointment of Judge Ann Marie McIff Allen to the United States District Court for the District of Utah on April 15, 2024.

According to a release from the Governor’s Office, the nominees for the vacancies are:

• Meb Anderson — Assistant Attorney General, Education Division Director for the Utah Attorney General’s Office
• Ryan Christiansen — Attorney/Section Director for the Utah Attorney General’s Office
• Chad Dotson — County Attorney for the Iron County Attorney’s Office
• K. Jake Graff — Managing Partner at Graff Van, PLLC, Justice Court Judge for Santa Clara City and Hildale City
• Susan Hunt — Instructor of the Practice at Utah Tech University
• Ejay Overson — Assistant Professor at Southern Utah University, and owner of Overson Legal & amp; Mediation, PLLC

Nominees for Sixth District Court

There is one vacancy on the Sixth District Court, following the retirement of Judge Marvin D. Bagley on September 30, 2024.

According to a release from the Governor’s Office, the nominees for the vacancy are:

• Kent Burggraaf — City Attorney for Kanab City, Attorney with Kent. A. Burggraaf, Attorney at Law
• Arek Butler — Assistant Attorney General for the Utah Office of the Attorney General
• Jeffrey Makin — Senior Vice President, Legal for Sunrun Inc.
• Michael Mathie — Attorney for Mathie Law, Associate General Counsel for TaxHawk Inc.
• Robert Van Dyke — County Attorney for Kane County

Written comments can be submitted to the Fifth and Sixth District Judicial Nominating Commissions at judicialvacancies@utah.gov, or Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice, P.O. Box 142330, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-2330.

The deadline for written comments is Aug. 12, at noon. Then, the names will be sent to Gov. Spencer J. Cox, who will reportedly have 30 days to make an appointment.

Cox’s appointee is subject to confirmation by the Utah Senate.