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SALT LAKE CITY — Utah Supreme Court Chief Justice Matthew Durrant reassured lawmakers that "government works" — at least in Utah — as he addressed a joint session of the Utah House of Representatives and Senate on the first day of the legislative session Tuesday.
Durrant praised the independent judiciary in Utah, contrasting the state's process of appointing higher-court judges to the process of states that instead have judicial elections. The chief justice — who was appointed to the Supreme Court by former Gov. Michael Leavitt in 2000 — pointed to a recent judicial election in Wisconsin in which candidates spent more than $50 million, according to the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign.
Durrant also used his annual State of the Judiciary address to warn against increasing polarization and vitriol in politics and spoke of the declining trust in government institutions. The chief justice said he's "discouraged by the deterioration that we've seen in our national discourse," where some are increasingly likely to view ideological opponents as "evil," instead of just "wrong."
However, he said that most everyday Americans still adhere to a different set of values, and that is not reflected in discourse online or in the media.
"I think the values that still matter are those like integrity, honesty, fairness, tolerance and basic human decency," he said. "And those are the values you will find within the walls of the courthouse, and that is why it is a sanctuary."
Durrant praised state lawmakers and said he sees few "performative politics" in the Utah Legislature.
"I was reminded that in Utah — whatever might be the case elsewhere — government works," he said, adding that the Legislature is made up of "public servants in this body who are here to serve, to legislate and to govern."
He said he was inspired by new House Speaker Mike Schultz, R-Hooper, who called for an end of "partisan quibbling" after he won the chamber's support in November.
As Durrant spoke, several pieces of legislation passed by the Legislature's Republican supermajority remained blocked by lower courts, after opponents challenged their legality. The state's near-total abortion ban, restrictions on transgender athletes and the most recent congressional redistricting maps have been blocked before going into effect.
The state Supreme Court is expected to eventually rule on the constitutionality of each law.
After requesting raises for judges during last year's address, Durrant thanked lawmakers for acceding to his request. This time around, he asked legislators for additional funds for recruitment and new judicial officer positions.
He also asked for funding to address what he called a "critical shortage of qualified interpreters" in Utah courts. Lawmakers have until midnight on March 1 to pass a final budget, which will include funding for the state court system.
