Senate Judiciary Committee OKs Utah appeals..

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated.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.

Washington • The Senate Judiciary Committee has, again, voted unanimously to advance the nomination of Utah Court of Appeals Presiding Judge Carolyn McHugh to the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals.

The committee previously approved McHugh but the nomination lapsed as Congress entered a new session this year. The vote Thursday was by voice and no senators objected.

McHugh, who would be the first woman from Utah to serve on the federal appellate court in Denver, is supported by Sens. Orrin Hatch and Mike Lee of Utah. She would replace Judge Michael Murphy, who has taken senior status and hears fewer cases.

Hatch has lavished praise on McHugh, who was first nominated to the Utah Court of Appeals by former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman.

"I know a first-rate nominee when I see one," Hatch said last year when the committee first approved McHugh.

It's unclear when the full Senate will vote on McHugh's confirmation.

tburr@sltrib.com

Senate Judiciary Committee OKs Utah appeals judge, again