MINUTES OF THE
SENATE JUDICIAL CONFIRMATION COMMITTEE
Thursday, May 14, 2026 • 11:00 a.m. • 120 Senate Building


Members Present:
Sen. Todd Weiler, Chair
Sen. Brady Brammer
Sen. Kirk A. Cullimore
Sen. Don L. Ipson
Sen. Karen Kwan
Sen. Daniel McCay
Sen. Stephanie Pitcher

Staff Present:
Jonathan Adams, Policy Analyst
Jacqueline Carlton, Senior Associate General Counsel
Naomi Garrow, Administrative Assistant

Note: A copy of related materials and an audio recording of the meeting can be found at www.le.utah.gov.

Chair Weiler called the meeting to order at 11:06 a.m.
1.Committee Business
MOTION:Sen. Brammer moved to approve the minutes from the January 20, 2026, meeting.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-3.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. B. Brammer
Sen. D. Ipson
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. T. Weiler
Sen. K. Cullimore
Sen. D. McCay
Sen. S. Pitcher
MOTION:Sen. Brammer moved to close the meeting to discuss the characteristics and qualifications of the appointees.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-3.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. B. Brammer
Sen. D. Ipson
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. T. Weiler
Sen. K. Cullimore
Sen. D. McCay
Sen. S. Pitcher
MOTION:Sen. Brammer moved to reopen the meeting.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-1.
Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 1
Sen. B. Brammer
Sen. K. Cullimore
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. D. McCay
Sen. S. Pitcher
Sen. T. Weiler
Sen. D. Ipson
Committee introductions.
2.Appointment of Jack Burns to the Utah Fifth District Court
Jack Burns gave a personal statement and answered questions from the committee.
MOTION:Sen. Cullimore moved to favorably recommend to the full Senate Jack Burns as a judge for the Utah Fifth District Court.
Discussion to the motion
Sen. Cullimore's motionpassed with a vote 7-0-0.
Yeas - 7Nays- 0Abs- 0
Sen. B. Brammer
Sen. K. Cullimore
Sen. D. Ipson
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. D. McCay
Sen. S. Pitcher
Sen. T. Weiler
3.Appointment of Bryan Pattison to the Utah Fifth District Court
Bryan Pattison gave a personal statement and answered questions from the committee.
MOTION:Sen. McCay moved to favorably recommend to the full Senate Bryan Pattison as a judge for the Utah Fifth District Court.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-1.
Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 1
Sen. B. Brammer
Sen. K. Cullimore
Sen. D. Ipson
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. D. McCay
Sen. T. Weiler
Sen. S. Pitcher
MOTION:Sen. Brammer moved to go into a closed session.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-1.
Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 1
Sen. B. Brammer
Sen. K. Cullimore
Sen. D. Ipson
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. D. McCay
Sen. T. Weiler
Sen. S. Pitcher
MOTION:Sen. Brammer moved to reopen the meetingThe motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. B. Brammer
Sen. D. Ipson
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. S. Pitcher
Sen. T. Weiler
Sen. K. Cullimore
Sen. D. McCay
Chair Weiler had the committee reintroduce themselves.
4.Appointment of Patricia Kuendig to the Utah Third District Court
Patricia Kuendig gave a personal statement and answered questions from the committee.
MOTION:Sen. Pitcher moved to favorably recommend to the full Senate Jack Burns as a judge for the Utah Third District Court.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-1.
Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 1
Sen. B. Brammer
Sen. K. Cullimore
Sen. D. Ipson
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. S. Pitcher
Sen. T. Weiler
Sen. D. McCay
MOTION:Sen. Pitcher moved to be recorded as a "yes" for Jack Burns's appointment to the Fifth District Court.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-3.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. B. Brammer
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. S. Pitcher
Sen. T. Weiler
Sen. K. Cullimore
Sen. D. Ipson
Sen. D. McCay
MOTION:Sen. Pitcher moved to be recorded as a "yes" for Bryan Pattison's appointment to the Fifth District Court.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-3.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. B. Brammer
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. S. Pitcher
Sen. T. Weiler
Sen. K. Cullimore
Sen. D. Ipson
Sen. D. McCay
5.Appointment of Todd Olsen to the Utah Third District Court
Todd Olsen gave a personal statement and answered questions from the committee.
MOTION:Sen. Pitcher moved to favorably recommend to the full Senate Todd Olsen as a judge for the Utah Third District Court.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. K. Cullimore
Sen. D. Ipson
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. S. Pitcher
Sen. T. Weiler
Sen. B. Brammer
Sen. D. McCay
MOTION:Sen. Cullimore moved to be recorded as a "yes" for Patricia Kuending's appointment to the Third District Court.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. K. Cullimore
Sen. D. Ipson
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. S. Pitcher
Sen. T. Weiler
Sen. B. Brammer
Sen. D. McCay
MOTION:Sen. Ipson moved to be recorded as a "yes" for Patricia Kuendig's appointment to the Third District Court.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. K. Cullimore
Sen. D. Ipson
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. S. Pitcher
Sen. T. Weiler
Sen. B. Brammer
Sen. D. McCay
6.Other Items/Adjourn
MOTION:Sen. Ipson moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. K. Cullimore
Sen. D. Ipson
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. S. Pitcher
Sen. T. Weiler
Sen. B. Brammer
Sen. D. McCay
Chair Weiler adjourned the meeting at 3:32 p.m.