Chief Justice Matthew Durrant offers gratitude and guidance to 63rd Legislature

Chief Justice Matthew Durrant spoke to the 63rd Utah State Senate on Jan. 28 and offered his remarks on the upcoming legislative session.

Durrant opened with a story about Walter Arnold – the man who received the world’s first speeding ticket in 1896. Arnold was apprehended by constables traveling in excess of 8 mph in a 2-mph zone (in a vehicle of his own creation). When brought before the local judiciary, he was fined a single shilling – the equivalent of roughly $8. This marked a new era of legislative and judicial efforts, one driven by technological evolution. “Over time, legislative action shapes and is shaped by community values establishing common commitment to shared conventions,” Durrant said. “For hundreds of years, scholars and authors have wrestled with defining the rule of law. The term is not mentioned in the United States Constitution; neither is it mentioned in the Utah Constitution. It is not explicitly defined in the federal or state codes. Yet the rule of law undergirds every aspect of our state and federal governments.” Durrant also discussed a number of proposals to be reviewed in the upcoming legislative session, including the confirmation of additional judges and the creation of new positions in an ongoing effort to better serve Utah citizens. He affirmed fidelity to the law should never be shaped by, or subjugated to, a political agenda. “Let future citizens look back and know that we honored and respected the rule of law,” Durrant said. Tags: 63rd legislature, 63rd utah state senate, chief justice, judicial review, matthew durrant, utah judges, utah senate