Utah's legal landscape entered a new phase today as Derek Brown took the oath to become the state's Attorney General. His inauguration this morning signals the onset of anticipated changes he has pledged to the Utah justice system. According to the Utah Attorney General's Office, Brown's transition team, composed of over 40 expert volunteers across 11 subcommittees, thoroughly assessed the Attorney General's office operations before his taking office.
Notable figures on the bipartisan transition team include former Utah Solicitor General Tyler Green and former State Representative Lowry Snow, amongst others, who collectively provided an arsenal of recommendations for improvements within the office. Their contributions are seen as crucial steps in Brown's strategy to not only reform the Office of the Attorney General but also to position it as a premier legal institution for Utah's nearly 600 staff members.
As obtained by the Utah Attorney General's Office, Brown outlined his ambitious blueprint, which spans from raising ethical standards to leveraging technology for efficiency. Perhaps most significantly, he announced the formation of an Executive Ethics Committee aimed at staving off potential conflicts of interest, an area where Brown seems keenly aware of public scrutiny. He articulated this awareness, saying, "Transparency and avoiding even the appearance of conflicts are essential, so I have taken extra steps beyond what is legally required of me in this role."
Brown's forward-looking stance is set to usher in tech-savvy reforms and enhanced transparency protocols. In dedication to openness, he also committed to making his weekly public schedule available online, a move likely to be welcomed by advocates for government transparency. Meanwhile, by placing his family's assets in a blind trust and relinquishing his positions on several nonprofit boards, Brown appears to be cementing his resolve against conflicting interests. He addressed the importance of these actions by saying, "Earning your trust is rooted in action, and these actions demonstrate that I am serious about earning the people’s trust and being accountable," as noted by the Utah Attorney General's Office.
