SALT LAKE CITY -- Sen. Greg Bell, R-Fruit Heights, has been named chair of the Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee after Senate President John Valentine dismissed Sen. Chris Buttars, R-Salt Lake, from the post. The committee screens judicial candidates.

"We're always glad to see someone from Davis County in Legislative leadership," said Chris Dallin, chairman of the Davis Chamber Legislative Affairs Committee, when he announced the appointment at the committee's weekly meeting. "We're excited about the position. We're always happy to see a local boy do good."

Although Valentine did not give a specific reason for the change, there has been speculation that Buttars ran into trouble after sending an angry letter to one of the judges.

Bell doesn't anticipate significant change as to how the committed operates when he takes the helm and expects Buttars to continue as a committee member.