Source: The Daily Herald
A Heber City lawmaker has been confirmed as a new Fourth District Court judge despite concerns from the LGBT community about past legislation.
State Rep. Kraig Powell, R-Heber City, was confirmed Wednesday on a unanimous 25-0 vote of the Utah Senate during a special legislative session to take the bench of retiring judge Claudia Laycock.
Members of the Alliance for a Better Utah raised concerns Monday before the Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee based on Powell’s consideration of previous legislation that would have given preference to heterosexual couples over LGBT couples when being considered for adoption or foster parents.
Powell apologized for his consideration of the controversial legislation, noting it did not pass.
However, Chase Thomas, policy and advocacy counsel for the Alliance for a Better Utah, said the fact that Powell was even considering the legislation shows a bias of discrimination.
In the legislation itself, Powell proposed using the word “pairage” instead of “marriage” to define a married LGBT couple. That distinction, Powell said, would delineate LGBT couples in their rights to children.
But the legislation, deemed prejudicial by favoring heterosexual couples, never gained much traction, failing in the 2016 legislative session.
Powell will fill Laycock’s seat at the end of the year after her retirement.
Read the Daily Herald article here
