Utah residents are eagerly awaiting to see if they will have the opportunity to vote on Amendment A, a proposed constitutional amendment that would change the process for filling judicial vacancies. The amendment aims to allow the governor to select a candidate from a list provided by a commission and submit it to the Utah Senate for confirmation. This process would apply to all judicial vacancies, from the state supreme court down to district court level.
However, before the residents can vote on Amendment A, a legal battle is currently unfolding in court. A group called “Keep My Voice” has filed a lawsuit against Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson, arguing that she should not have approved the amendment for the ballot. Their argument is based on the claim that the Utah Constitution prohibits the governor from selecting candidates for judicial vacancies, therefore making Amendment A unconstitutional.
In response, the Lt. Gov. Henderson has defended her decision, stating that the amendment does not violate the Constitution and that it should be up to the voters to decide on the matter. She also emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability in the judicial selection process, which Amendment A seeks to address.
The lawsuit is currently awaiting a decision from the Utah Supreme Court, and both supporters and opponents of Amendment A are closely watching the proceedings. If the court rules in favor of “Keep My Voice,” it could prevent Utah residents from voting on the amendment in the upcoming election. On the other hand, if the court upholds the Lt. Gov.’s decision, the fate of Amendment A will ultimately be in the hands of the voters.
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