Judge John J. Nielsen will be the next justice of the Utah Supreme Court, joining the bench as a self-described constitutional “originalist” at a time of intense friction between the judiciary and the state’s overwhelmingly Republican leadership.

Senators confirmed his nomination on a 19-6 party-line vote Wednesday, with Republicans praising him as a capable, intelligent jurist, while Democrats who opposed the nomination did so because of highly politicized causes that Nielsen had represented before he was confirmed as a 3rd District judge last year.

In brief remarks after the vote, Nielsen thanked the senators and Cox for their support, and that he loves the state and the court and “will do my took.”

“I find him to be incredibly intelligent, but his background does not inspire much c

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