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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A Senate panel has approved Gov. Gary Herbert's nomination of state Judge Constandinos Himonas to serve on Utah's Supreme Court.
The Senate's Judicial Confirmation Committee voted 7-0 on Tuesday evening to approve Himonas.
His nomination now advances to the full Utah Senate for consideration. That's expected to happen Friday.
Himonas has spent a decade as a judge in Utah's 3rd District covering Salt Lake, Tooele and Summit Counties.
He would replace Associate Chief Justice Ronald Nehring. He is retiring after about 11 years on the high court.
Nehring, a Lutheran, is the only non-Mormon justice on the five-member court.
Himonas, who is Greek-Orthodox, would continue that distinction if his nomination is confirmed by the Utah Senate.
Herbert's spokesman Marty Carpenter says the governor doesn't ask nominees about their religious or political affiliations.
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