Judges, Not Gender: Utah's Merit-Based Picks | Salt Lake City News

Salt Lake City News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Aug 21, 2026 · 1m

Utah Governor Spencer Cox is poised to reshape the state’s Supreme Court by appointing two new justices from a pool of twelve nominees—three of whom are women—igniting debate over merit versus diversity in judicial appointments. U.S. District Attorney Melissa Holyoak lauds Cox’s focus on intellect, experience, and integrity, noting he deliberately avoids gender as a factor, emphasizing legal excellence over DEI metrics. Cox insists he selects “the sharpest legal talent,” regardless of gender, a stance echoed by former White House counsel Brent Hatch, who argues DEI isn’t suited for filling…