Kymber Housley withdraws judicial nomination

FILE PHOTO

<strong>LOGAN —</strong> Logan city attorney Kymber Housley has withdrawn his name for consideration to replace First District Court Judge, Clint Judkins.  The withdrawal was announced just hours before a state Senate committee was scheduled to weigh in on Housley’s nomination.

<p class=”textwindent”>Housley has served as a Logan City Attorney for 18 years and was nominated by Governor Gary Herbert in late February to replace Judge Judkins.  His nomination has been mired by reports of his wife’s, Cassandra Lynn Housley’s continued financial problems.

<p class=”textwindent”>Housley told the Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee Tuesday morning that he was withdrawing his name for consideration.  Committee Chairman, Senator Scott Jenkins, R-Plain City, said he received a call from Governor Herbert’s nominating committee around 10:30, notifying him of Housley’s withdrawal.

<p class=”textwindent”>Jenkins said he interviewed Housley several days ago and at the time, Housley gave no indication that he was pulling his name from the nomination.

“He appeared to be strong,” said Jenkins. “He had one of the Govenor’s folks with him and everything appeared to be in order.”

<p class=”textwindent”>Since Housley’s nomination, reports have circulated around Cache County of his wife’s financial problems.  Federal court documents reveal that in March 2011, Cassandra Housley filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy, which reorganized her debts and allowed for a payment plan that required monthly payments of $1,044 for the next five years, the documents show.

<p class=”textwindent”>In March 2012, she filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, which wiped out her debts. She owed $291,835 in credit cards and payday loans.

<p class=”textwindent”>Searches of 1st District Court and Cache County’s justice courts show several small claims filed against her, the most recent in April 2012 by USA Cash Services, a payday loan company. In that case, which was resolved before Judge Matthew Funk in Providence City Justice Court, Housley was ordered to repay $1,370 to the company.

Jenkins said the process to replace Judge Clint Judkins will now start over and could take another four to five months.

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