From: Jerry Howe
To: Sen. Weiler, T.,
Subject: FW: Utah Court of Appeals: Margaret Plane
Date: 2020-11-19T17:00:42Z
Body:

FYI

 

From: Sullivan, Alan <asullivan@swlaw.com>
Sent: Thursday, November 19, 2020 9:48 AM
To: Jerry Howe <jdhowe@le.utah.gov>
Subject: Utah Court of Appeals: Margaret Plane

 

Hi Jerry—I hope things are going well for you and your family during this difficult time.  I’m writing you to express my unqualified support for the Governor’s nomination of  Margaret Plane as a judge on the Utah Court of Appeals.  I ask that you pass on my comments to the members of the Senate who will be considering Margaret’s nomination. 

 

            I have worked with Margaret in various contexts for the last 15 years.  I first got to know her in her capacity as legal director for the ACLU.  This was a period in which I represented the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in litigation relating to the use of Main Street Plaza and, a little later, the rights of protesters in and around Temple Square.  After she moved to the Salt Lake City Attorney’s office, I interfaced with her primarily on land use issues regarding real estate development in downtown Salt Lake and regarding water rights issues in Little Cottonwood Canyon.  

 

Throughout all of these interactions, Margaret and I became, and have remained, friends.  She was a great advocate for the clients of the ACLU, and she was one of the people there on whom I could count to cooperate in reaching sensible solutions to very contentious issues.  Later on, she emerged as one of the lawyers in the City Attorney’s office I could trust to be honest and sensible.  Her heart was always in the right place, and I could always trust her priorities as a committed public service lawyer. 

 

            We lawyers should all be grateful for Margaret’s commitment to the Bar.  It’s so easy for those who have demanding practices to ignore the lawyer’s obligation to assist in the self-regulation of the profession.  From the very beginning of her practice, Margaret has been a leader in the profession, serving on the Bar Commission, on the Ethics and Discipline Committee of the Bar, and now as a member of the ABA House of Delegates, which is a pretty big deal in my book.  As you know, all of these are demanding jobs, requiring patience, commitment, judgment, and generosity.

 

            Margaret will be a great appellate judge.  She’s smart, energetic, pleasant to everyone, and a pleasure to work with.  Her judgment is measured and sound.  I enthusiastically endorse her for a position on the Utah Court of Appeals and I would be happy to answer any questions that you or the members of the Senate may have about her qualifications. 

 

I wish you and your family the best.  --Alan  

 

 

Alan Sullivan

Snell & Wilmer L.L.P.
15 W. South Temple, Suite 1200
Salt Lake City, UT 84101
Office: 801.257.1900

Direct: 801.257.1955

asullivan@swlaw.com  www.swlaw.com

 

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