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SALT LAKE CITY — Thomas R. Lee, associate chief justice for the Utah Supreme Court, announced Thursday that he plans to step down from his position at the end of July.
"It has been an honor to serve the people of the state of Utah as a member of the Supreme Court. For 12 years, I have been privileged to work with an impressive group of committed, principled colleagues on this court and throughout the judiciary," Lee said in a letter sent on Wednesday to Gov. Spencer Cox.
Lee said that he wants to pursue other opportunities within the legal profession after his retirement.
He was appointed to the Utah Supreme Court by Gov. Gary Herbert in 2010.
In addition to his position as associate chief justice, Lee serves on the advisory committee on the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and is a part-time lecturer on legal topics at BYU, Harvard Law School, and the University of Chicago Law School.
Chief Justice Matthew B. Durrant said called Lee an extraordinary jurist.
"I don't think a single opinion has been issued in a case in which he participated that was not improved by his scholarship, whether or not he was the named author. His work has been brilliant and his commitment to the rule of law unparalleled," Durrant said in a statement.
Lee's brother, Utah Sen. Mike Lee, said in response to the announcement that his brother fulfilled his position on the Utah Supreme Court with a commitment to excellence.
He praised his brother's use of linguistic theory in interpreting laws.
"His work has brought increased transparency and determinacy to the work of textualism and originalism, thus enhancing the rule of law. His judicial opinions and scholarly publications in this field have been cited in state and federal courts throughout the country, including in the Supreme Court of the United States. I couldn't be more proud to be his brother," Mike Lee said.
It will be up to Cox to nominate someone to replace Lee on the high court. The Utah Senate will ultimately decide whether to confirm that nomination.
