This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Despite a state commission's recommendation to not retain 3rd District Judge Su Chon, voters in her jurisdiction appear to be fine with keeping her on the bench.
Of nearly 90 judges on the ballot this year, Chon was the only one the Utah Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission recommended not be retained, in a 7-2 vote.
The commission said Chon does not meet the minimum standard for legal ability and ranks well-below her peers' average scores in other categories. She said last month that she "respectfully disagree[d]" with the commission's opinion and asked voters to allow her to stay.
Chon was appointed to the bench in 2012 by Gov. Gary Herbert despite the Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee's 4-2 vote against her confirmation.
Some committee members had voiced concern about her lack of courtroom experience four years ago; she had never taken a case to trial. But supporters praised Chon, the attorney for the state's Office of the Property Rights Ombudsman at the time, as a hard worker with a good legal mind. The full Senate ultimately voted, 17 to 10, to confirm her appointment.
Chon said in October that she works hard to ensure that people get a fair chance in her court, noting that each of her five rulings that were appealed to higher courts have been upheld.
Voters appeared to have approved retention for every district judge on the ballot this year.
Utah's 3rd District Court comprises Tooele, Salt Lake and Summit counties.
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