Efforts to diversify Utah's judicial bench, seen as mostly white and male, are meeting resistance from some who believe that merit is what matters.
The Salt Lake Tribune reports that the University of Utah, the Utah State Bar and others are working to widen the pool of candidates from law school to the court.
However, some state lawmakers feel gender and color should not be factors in judicial appointments.
State Rep. Merrill Nelson says the Utah Constitution and state law prevent considerations of diversity when it comes to nominating people for the bench.
The Grantsville Republican has tried for years to make nominating commissions disregard race and gender in the vetting process.
There are roughly 100 judges in Utah's state courts.
Seven out of every 10 are white males.
