Merrill Nelson | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Member of the UtahHouseofRepresentatives from the 68th district | |
In office January 1, 2013 –December 31, 2022 | |
Preceded by | Bill Wright |
Succeeded by | Scott Chew |
Personal details | |
Born | Tooele,Utah | July 16,1955
Nationality | American |
Political party | Republican |
Spouse | Karen Nelson [1] |
Children | 5 [1] |
Residence | Grantsville,Utah |
Alma mater | Brigham Young University J. Reuben Clark Law School |
Profession | Lawyer |
Website | merrillnelson |
Merrill F. Nelson [2] (born July 16,1955 in Tooele,Utah) is an American politician and a former Republican member of the Utah House of Representatives representing District 68. [3] Merrill announced he was not seeking re-election in 2022.
Nelson was born in Grantsville,UT. He was the fourth child of eight children of Ruth Nelson (née Francom) and Russell A Nelson. His mother was born in Payson,UT;his father in Tooele,UT. When Merrill was born,his father was a farmer. [4] [5]
Nelson earned his BS in agricultural economics from Brigham Young University and his JD from J. Reuben Clark Law School. He has worked as a Supreme Court Law Clerk from 1982–83 and on the Supreme Court Advisory Committee on Appellate Procedure from 1986-87. Nelson is a member of the Utah State Bar. Nelson chairs the Guardian ad Litem Oversight Committee,and has also worked on the Fair Boundaries Coalition since 2011. He also serves as chair of the Grantsville Old Folks Sociable. [6] [7]
During the 2022 legislative session,Nelson served on the Infrastructure and General Government Appropriations Subcommittee,House Health and Human Services Committee,and House Transportation Committee. [8]
Bill Number | Bill Name | Bill Status |
---|---|---|
HB 87 | Procurement Code Revisions | House/ filed - 3/4/22 |
HB 143 | DUI Penalty Amendments | House/ filed - 3/4/22 |
HB 205 | County Officer Fees Amendments | Governor signed - 3/24/22 |
HB 219 | Uniform Unregulated Child Custody Transfer Act | Governor signed - 3/24/22 |
HB 344 | Utah Medical Candor Act | Governor signed - 3/24/22 |
HJR 13 | Joint Resolution Amending Court Rules of Procedure and Evidence to Address the Medical Candor Process | House/ enrolled bill to Printing - 3/14/22 |
HR 1 | House Rules Resolution - Reconsideration of Action | House/ filed - 3/4/22 |
Nelson worked for law firm Kirton McConkie [17] which represents the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints [18] based out of Salt Lake City,Utah. In this capacity,one of his duties was receiving phone calls from ecclesiastical leaders through a helpline to give legal advice regarding sensitive situations. [19] Nelson was named in a lawsuit brought against the church,alleging that he gave legal advice to two Bishops not to report a case of sexual abuse of children to law enforcement or child protective services. [20] Section 13-3620 of the Arizona Code allows clergy members (like Bishops) to choose whether reporting abuse disclosed in a confession is in the best interests of the parties involved. [21] [22] The church asserts that,as required by Arizona law,the Bishop sought permission from the perpetrator of the abuse to report his confession to the authorities. [22] When the perpetrator declined to grant permission,the Bishop asked both the perpetrator and his wife to report the abuse themselves,but both again refused. [22] In April 2023,the Arizona Supreme Court ruled that Arizona's clergy-privilege law properly applies to LDS Bishops. [23]
Robert William Bishop is an American politician who served as the U.S. representative for Utah's 1st congressional district from 2003 to 2021. A member of the Republican Party,he became the dean of Utah's congressional delegation after the retirement of Orrin Hatch from the U.S. Senate in 2019.
The rights of lesbian,gay,bisexual,transgender,and queer (LGBTQ) people in the U.S. state of Utah have significantly evolved in the 21st century. Protective laws have become increasingly enacted since 2014,despite the state's reputation as socially conservative and highly religious. Utah's anti-sodomy law was invalidated in 2003 by Lawrence v. Texas,and fully repealed by the state legislature in 2019. Same-sex marriage has been legal since the state's ban was ruled unconstitutional by federal courts in 2014. In addition,statewide anti-discrimination laws now cover sexual orientation and gender identity in employment and housing,and the use of conversion therapy on minors is prohibited. In spite of this,there are still a few differences between the treatment of LGBTQ people and the rest of the population,and the rights of transgender youth are restricted.
Mark Leonard Shurtleff is an American attorney,former three-term Utah Attorney General,and founder of the Shurtleff Law Firm and the Shurtleff Group. He was a partner in the Washington,D.C. office of the law firm Troutman Sanders and served as a Salt Lake County Commissioner prior to being elected as Attorney General of the state of Utah.
Merrill Alonzo Cook is an American politician and businessman who served as a Republican Party member in the United States House of Representatives from Utah.
Michael Kent Winder is an American businessman,author,and politician. He was the mayor of West Valley City,Utah between 2010 and 2014. A Republican,he subsequently represented District 30 in the Utah House of Representatives for three terms,from 2017 to 2022. He is the author of fourteen published books on Utah and LDS history,including Presidents and Prophets:The Story of America's Presidents and the LDS Church.
Mark Archuleta Wheatley is a Democratic member of the Utah State House of Representatives,representing the 35th District since 2004. He lives in Murray,Utah,with his wife Josie.
Same-sex marriage has been legal in Utah since October 6,2014. On December 20,2013,the state began issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples as a result of the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah's ruling in the case of Kitchen v. Herbert,which found that barring same-sex couples from marrying violates the U.S. Constitution. The issuance of those licenses was halted during the period of January 6,2014 until October 6,2014,following the resolution of a lawsuit challenging the state's ban on same-sex marriage. On that day,following the U.S. Supreme Court's refusal to hear an appeal in a case that found Utah's ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional,the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals ordered the state to recognize same-sex marriage.
Michael Shumway Lee is an American lawyer and politician serving as the senior United States senator from Utah,a seat he has held since 2011. A member of the Republican Party,Lee became Utah's senior senator in 2019 and dean of Utah's congressional delegation in 2021.
Spencer James Cox is an American lawyer and politician serving as the 18th governor of Utah since 2021. A member of the Republican Party,he served as the eighth lieutenant governor of Utah from 2013 to 2021. In Fairview,Utah,where Cox lives and was raised,he was elected to the city council in 2004 and then as mayor in 2005. In 2008,he was elected as a Sanpete County commissioner.
Sean David Reyes is an American lawyer and politician who has served as the Attorney General of Utah from 2013 to 2025. Appointed to the office by Governor Gary Herbert following the resignation of John Swallow,Reyes was reelected. Reyes is a member of the Republican Party and is a vocal and longtime supporter of Donald Trump. He has served as a county,state,and national delegate for the Republican Party and a member of the Utah Republican Party's State Central Committee.
V. Lowry Snow is an American politician who served as a Republican member of the Utah House of Representatives,representing District 74 since his January 11,2012 appointment to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of David Clark. He has lived in Washington County for over 40 years and is married to former high school music educator,Sheryl Snow. They have been married for 47 years and have 6 children and 17 grandchildren. They currently reside in Santa Clara.
Douglas V. Sagers is an American politician and a former Republican member of the Utah House of Representatives representing District 21.
Val L. Peterson is an American politician and a Republican member of the Utah House of Representatives representing District 56 and lives there with his wife,Ann. He currently serves as Vice President of Administration and Legislative Affairs at Utah Valley University.
Stephen G. Handy is an American politician who served as a member of the Utah House of Representatives for the 16th district. He assumed office on April 15,2010.
Kraig J. Powell was an American politician and a Republican member of the Utah House of Representatives representing District 54 from 2009 to 2016. In October 2016,he was appointed as a judge of the Utah 4th District Court by Utah governor Gary Herbert.
Brian Smith King is an American politician serving as a Democratic member of the Utah House of Representatives from the 23rd district. Before redistricting following the 2020 census,he represented the 28th district since January 1,2009. In April 2024,he became the Democratic nominee for the gubernatorial election against Republican incumbent Spencer Cox.
Bradley 'Brad' G. Last is an American politician and a former Republican member of the Utah House of Representatives representing District 71.
David P. Hinkins is an American politician and a Republican member of the Utah State Senate representing District 26. Prior to redistricting he represented District 27. since January 1,2009.
Marsha Judkins is an American politician serving in the Utah House of Representatives,representing District 61. During the 2022 General Session,she served on the Social Services Appropriations Committee,House Health and Human Services Committee,and the House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee.
The 2022 Arizona elections were held in the state of Arizona on November 8,2022,coinciding with the nationwide general election. All six executive offices were up for election,as well as a U.S. Senate seat,all of the state's U.S. House of Representatives seats,and the state legislature.
Served three years on the Guardian ad litem Oversight Committee appointed by Utah Judicial Council; acting chairman. Served on Utah Supreme Court Advisory Committee on Appellate Procedure. Author and presenter on constitutional issues; chapter author, "Confronting Pornography." Clerked on Utah Supreme Court. Editor of BYU Law Review.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)