Utah governor signs bill adding justices to state Supreme Court as redistricting appeal looms
Source: AP
Updated 8:17 PM EST, January 31, 2026
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah Gov. Spencer Cox signed a bill Saturday that expands the state Supreme Court from five justices to seven as frustration has mounted among Republican lawmakers over a string of defeats before the tribunal.
Republican advocates for the change argued that it would help improve the court’s efficiency. But legal experts said it could have the opposite effect and set a dangerous precedent at a time of tension between the branches of government. The state’s judiciary did not ask for more justices on the high court.
Democrats, who were united in opposition to the bill, called the timing suspicious. Last week the Legislature asked the court to overturn a redistricting ruling that gave Democrats a strong shot at picking up one of Utah’s four Republican-held congressional seats in the fall. New justices could be in place when the court decides the fate of the congressional map.
Because the bill received approval from more than two-thirds of legislators, it took effect immediately after the governor signed it, allowing him to bypass a several-month waiting period to start adding justices.
Read more: https://apnews.com/article/utah-supreme-court-expansion-redistricting-midterms-b643460e59aebad01b3f9f8efbd1e482
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