It has come to my awareness that Margaret Plane, a highly qualified attorney, has not been met with the consideration and constitutionally mandated process that she is owed. 

Of the 108 judicial nominees that governor Herbert has put forward, only 4 of them have been met with this blocking behavior. All four are women, and I take great offense to this sexism as someone who would like to see more representation in local and federal leadership. In addition to this, I wonder if it has anything to do with her political leanings? If so, this is unconstitutional. Either reason for not considering her is unacceptable. Please give her a fair hearing. 

In 2016, we had the displeasure of watching republican senators prevent Obama's nominee from being considered to the country's supreme court because it was too soon to the election. In 2020, we got to watch them plunge a nominee through in very inappropriate record time mere months before the election. If Utah leaders plan to follow the same hypocrisy of plunging through those with the same opinions and party stances while blocking those who have valuable insights and experiences just for being more liberal, I will be immensely disappointed. 

Right now, we need aisle crossers and people who are willing to engage with those who have different perspectives so that we can have the appropriate checks and balances in this state and country. Anything otherwise is an absolute disgrace, and I--among many other constituents--will not forget it. Please do your job and get over partisan politics. Party politics are unconstitutional in this situation, and frankly, they are embarrassing to your moderate constituents who recognize that unity and fairness MUST come before party identity. Attitudes and prejudices such as these are tearing the country apart, and you are contributing to this divide and growing political fallout with every day that you do not take fair action for this excellent woman. 

Thank you for your time. Please don't let your constituents down.

Annalyse Kofoed

Provo UT