Judge John Nielsen's nomination to the Utah Supreme Court comes at a particularly tense time in relations between the legislative and judicial branches of government.

The US Supreme Court, hearing arguments Wednesday over a core provision of the Voting Rights Act, appeared inclined to limit the use of the landmark law to force states to draw electoral districts favorable to minority voters.

During his second of two hearings before a full Senate vote, the pick to fill a vacancy on the Utah Supreme Court, Judge John Nielsen, was pressed on some of the constitutional questions in

Gov. Spencer Cox’s pick to become the new Utah Supreme Court justice cleared a hurdle Monday when a Senate panel recommended his confirmation. But not before he faced questions about his past role defending conservative actors in highly political legal cases,