SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — The pick to fill a vacancy on the Utah Supreme Court sat before a committee of lawmakers Thursday for his first of two hearings to be confirmed to the high court.

Among the line of questioning of current Third District Judge John Nielsen, Democrat Stephanie Pitcher asked about his ties to some high-profile current cases and his philosophy on recusal.

Namely, Nielson advocated on the state's side in Utah's near-total abortion ban and the current redistricting case via amicus briefs with his former law firm partner, Tom Lee, the brother of U.S. Senator Mike Lee.

"At least two of those cases are still in litigation and could potentially be back in front of the Supreme Court for further litigation," Pitcher said. "Will you recuse yourself on those two cases?" she ask

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