Utah Supreme Court Nominees Face Scrutiny | Salt Lake City News

Two top contenders for Utah’s Supreme Court, District Judge Matthew Bell and civil litigator Michael Menssen, are moving forward after a Senate panel unanimously endorsed them — a move that will restore the court to its full seven-member strength. Filling spots left by a retiring chief justice and a justice who stepped down amid misconduct allegations, both nominees stressed their devotion to constitutional principles and judicial independence. They addressed tensions with the Republican-led Legislature, which has clashed with recent court rulings, and reaffirmed their commitment to originalism and textualism. Bell emphasized the judiciary’s role as a check on all branches, while Menssen underscored that judges must interpret, not create, policy. Both pledged to uphold the law as written and remain accountable through appointment, confirmation, and potential impeachment — and now await final Senate approval. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Sources:https://www.deseret.com/utah/2026/09/14/is-the-utah-supreme-court-a-check-on-the-legislature-nominees-share-their-views/ More coverage & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/8d148016ec33e7a8 Report issues to [email protected].