Himonas unanimously confirmed to the Utah Supreme Court

Senate vote • Constandinos Himonas is the first Greek American on the Supreme Court, and the only non-Mormon now serving.

Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune
Constandinos Himonas is embraced by Sen. Stephen Urquhart, R-St. George, following his confirmation by the Senate during the legislative session at the State Captiol Building in Salt Lake City, Friday February 13, 2015.

Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune
Constandinos Himonas speaks to the Senate following his confirmation by that body during the legislative session at the State Captiol Building in Salt Lake City, Friday February 13, 2015.

Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune
Constandinos Himonas gets a fist bump from Senate President Wayne Niederhauser, following his confirmation by the Senate during the legislative session at the State Captiol Building in Salt Lake City, Friday February 13, 2015.

Lennie Mahler | The Salt Lake Tribune
Gov. Gary Herbert speaks to the media during a press conference announcing nomination of Judge Constandinos Himonas, right, to the Utah Supreme Court, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2014, at the Utah State Capitol.

Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune
Third District Judge Deno Himonas shakes hands with Sen. Peter C. Knudson (R) at the Utah State Capitol Tuesday February 10, 2015. The Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee voted Tuesday that 3rd District Judge Constandinos "Deno" Himonas be confirmed for a spot on the Utah Supreme Court. The vote was 7-0 to approve Himonas, who was nominated by Gov. Gary Herbert to fill the vacancy created by the Feb. 1 retirement of Justice Ronald Nehring. The entire Utah Senate will vote Friday. If approved, Himonas, who is Greek Orthodox, would be the only non-Mormon on the Supreme Court.

Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune
Lisa Himonas speaks to the Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee about her husband Deno at the Utah State Capitol Tuesday February 10, 2015. The Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee voted Tuesday that 3rd District Judge Constandinos "Deno" Himonas be confirmed for a spot on the Utah Supreme Court. The vote was 7-0 to approve Himonas, who was nominated by Gov. Gary Herbert to fill the vacancy created by the Feb. 1 retirement of Justice Ronald Nehring. The entire Utah Senate will vote Friday. If approved, Himonas, who is Greek Orthodox, would be the only non-Mormon on the Supreme Court.

Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune
Third District Judge Deno Himonas, wipes away a tear after being confirmed by the Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee at the Utah State Capitol Tuesday February 10, 2015. The Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee voted Tuesday that 3rd District Judge Constandinos "Deno" Himonas be confirmed for a spot on the Utah Supreme Court. The vote was 7-0 to approve Himonas, who was nominated by Gov. Gary Herbert to fill the vacancy created by the Feb. 1 retirement of Justice Ronald Nehring. The entire Utah Senate will vote Friday. If approved, Himonas, who is Greek Orthodox, would be the only non-Mormon on the Supreme Court.

Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune
Third District Judge Deno Himonas, nominated to the Utah Supreme Court, speaks to the Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee at the Utah State Capitol Tuesday February 10, 2015. The Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee voted Tuesday that 3rd District Judge Constandinos "Deno" Himonas be confirmed for a spot on the Utah Supreme Court. The vote was 7-0 to approve Himonas, who was nominated by Gov. Gary Herbert to fill the vacancy created by the Feb. 1 retirement of Justice Ronald Nehring. The entire Utah Senate will vote Friday. If approved, Himonas, who is Greek Orthodox, would be the only non-Mormon on the Supreme Court.

Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune
Third District Judge Deno Himonas, nominated to the Utah Supreme Court, looks back at his family and friends while speaking to the Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee at the Utah State Capitol Tuesday February 10, 2015. The Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee voted Tuesday that 3rd District Judge Constandinos "Deno" Himonas be confirmed for a spot on the Utah Supreme Court. The vote was 7-0 to approve Himonas, who was nominated by Gov. Gary Herbert to fill the vacancy created by the Feb. 1 retirement of Justice Ronald Nehring. The entire Utah Senate will vote Friday. If approved, Himonas, who is Greek Orthodox, would be the only non-Mormon on the Supreme Court.

Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune
Third District Judge Deno Himonas, nominated to the Utah Supreme Court, speaks to the Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee at the Utah State Capitol Tuesday February 10, 2015. The Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee voted Tuesday that 3rd District Judge Constandinos "Deno" Himonas be confirmed for a spot on the Utah Supreme Court. The vote was 7-0 to approve Himonas, who was nominated by Gov. Gary Herbert to fill the vacancy created by the Feb. 1 retirement of Justice Ronald Nehring. The entire Utah Senate will vote Friday. If approved, Himonas, who is Greek Orthodox, would be the only non-Mormon on the Supreme Court.

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Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune Constandinos Himonas is embraced by Sen. Stephen Urquhart, R-St. George, following his confirmation by the Senate during the legislative session at the State Captiol Building in Salt Lake City, Friday February 13, 2015. Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune Constandinos Himonas speaks to the Senate following his confirmation by that body during the legislative session at the State Captiol Building in Salt Lake City, Friday February 13, 2015. Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune Constandinos Himonas gets a fist bump from Senate President Wayne Niederhauser, following his confirmation by the Senate during the legislative session at the State Captiol Building in Salt Lake City, Friday February 13, 2015. Lennie Mahler | The Salt Lake Tribune Gov. Gary Herbert speaks to the media during a press conference announcing nomination of Judge Constandinos Himonas, right, to the Utah Supreme Court, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2014, at the Utah State Capitol. Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Third District Judge Deno Himonas shakes hands with Sen. Peter C. Knudson (R) at the Utah State Capitol Tuesday February 10, 2015. The Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee voted Tuesday that 3rd District Judge Constandinos "Deno" Himonas be confirmed for a spot on the Utah Supreme Court. The vote was 7-0 to approve Himonas, who was nominated by Gov. Gary Herbert to fill the vacancy created by the Feb. 1 retirement of Justice Ronald Nehring. The entire Utah Senate will vote Friday. If approved, Himonas, who is Greek Orthodox, would be the only non-Mormon on the Supreme Court. Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Lisa Himonas speaks to the Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee about her husband Deno at the Utah State Capitol Tuesday February 10, 2015. The Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee voted Tuesday that 3rd District Judge Constandinos "Deno" Himonas be confirmed for a spot on the Utah Supreme Court. The vote was 7-0 to approve Himonas, who was nominated by Gov. Gary Herbert to fill the vacancy created by the Feb. 1 retirement of Justice Ronald Nehring. The entire Utah Senate will vote Friday. If approved, Himonas, who is Greek Orthodox, would be the only non-Mormon on the Supreme Court. Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Third District Judge Deno Himonas, wipes away a tear after being confirmed by the Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee at the Utah State Capitol Tuesday February 10, 2015. The Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee voted Tuesday that 3rd District Judge Constandinos "Deno" Himonas be confirmed for a spot on the Utah Supreme Court. The vote was 7-0 to approve Himonas, who was nominated by Gov. Gary Herbert to fill the vacancy created by the Feb. 1 retirement of Justice Ronald Nehring. The entire Utah Senate will vote Friday. If approved, Himonas, who is Greek Orthodox, would be the only non-Mormon on the Supreme Court. Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Third District Judge Deno Himonas, nominated to the Utah Supreme Court, speaks to the Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee at the Utah State Capitol Tuesday February 10, 2015. The Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee voted Tuesday that 3rd District Judge Constandinos "Deno" Himonas be confirmed for a spot on the Utah Supreme Court. The vote was 7-0 to approve Himonas, who was nominated by Gov. Gary Herbert to fill the vacancy created by the Feb. 1 retirement of Justice Ronald Nehring. The entire Utah Senate will vote Friday. If approved, Himonas, who is Greek Orthodox, would be the only non-Mormon on the Supreme Court. Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Third District Judge Deno Himonas, nominated to the Utah Supreme Court, looks back at his family and friends while speaking to the Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee at the Utah State Capitol Tuesday February 10, 2015. The Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee voted Tuesday that 3rd District Judge Constandinos "Deno" Himonas be confirmed for a spot on the Utah Supreme Court. The vote was 7-0 to approve Himonas, who was nominated by Gov. Gary Herbert to fill the vacancy created by the Feb. 1 retirement of Justice Ronald Nehring. The entire Utah Senate will vote Friday. If approved, Himonas, who is Greek Orthodox, would be the only non-Mormon on the Supreme Court. Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Third District Judge Deno Himonas, nominated to the Utah Supreme Court, speaks to the Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee at the Utah State Capitol Tuesday February 10, 2015. The Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee voted Tuesday that 3rd District Judge Constandinos "Deno" Himonas be confirmed for a spot on the Utah Supreme Court. The vote was 7-0 to approve Himonas, who was nominated by Gov. Gary Herbert to fill the vacancy created by the Feb. 1 retirement of Justice Ronald Nehring. The entire Utah Senate will vote Friday. If approved, Himonas, who is Greek Orthodox, would be the only non-Mormon on the Supreme Court.

By Lee Davidson The Salt Lake Tribune

· February 14, 2015 12:03 pm

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

The Utah Senate on Friday confirmed Constandinos Himonas to the state Supreme Court on a 27-0 vote.

Himonas, who is Greek Orthodox, will be the only non-Mormon on the state's high court. He has served as a judge in the 3rd District Court for a decade.

After his confirmation, Himonas told the Senate that its gallery was full of his family. "It is truly my Big Fat Greek Confirmation proceeding."

He told the Senate, "I am deeply, deeply committed to a textual approach to legislation that comes out of this body and the House, and an originalist approach to both the constitution of this state and the Constitution of the United States."

He added, "Those are the twin pillars of my jurisprudence. And I commit to you to remember them throughout the time that I serve as a justice."

Himonas replaces retiring Justice Ronald Nehring.

Sen. Scott Jenkins, R-Plain City, said senators found the judge during confirmation hearings "to be a wonderful, delightful individual who embodies the kind of principles that we believe a Supreme Court justice should."

Sen. Todd Weiler, R-Woods Cross, an attorney, said he has appeared before Himonas in court. "I've always found him to be fair and intelligent with an excellent judicial demeanor. He is very well respected by his colleagues."

Sen. Jim Dabakis, D-Salt Lake City, who is of Greek descent, also applauded Himonas as "the first Greek American to serve on the Utah Supreme Court."