Gov. Gary Herbert announced in a press conference Thursday his appointment of an associate justice to the Utah Supreme Court.
“I really have had the opportunity to choose from the very best that Utah has to offer to put on the Supreme Court. So today, I am pleased to announce my nomination for the Utah Supreme Court as Judge Constandinos G. Himanos,” he said.
Judge Himonas has served as a trial judge for Utah’s Third District Court since 2004.
He received his juris doctor degree law degree from the University of Chicago Law School and a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Utah.
Gov. Herbert praised the judge as embodying the essential judicial qualities of integrity and hard work.
Judge Himonas is a member of the Greek Orthodox Church, making him, if confirmed by the Utah Senate, the only member of Utah’s highest court who is not a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Himonas promised to always to remember the large effect judicial conduct has on people’s lives.
“The cases we hear as judges represent either the most important thing going on in the lives of the people in front of us, or one of the most important things. Consequently, I have tried to give these cases the full measure of my ability, and if confirmed, I commit to this degree of dedication,” he said.
If confirmed by the Utah Senate, Judge Himonas will take over on Feb. 1, 2015.