The Utah Supreme Court has increased its number of justices from five to seven, thanks to a decision made by Republican Governor Spencer Cox on Saturday.
Governor Cox signed SB134, which immediately fills two vacant seats on the court. This expansion is significant as the court is expected to adjudicate a lawsuit regarding the U.S. House map to be utilized in the midterm elections in November. Notably, the bill did not garner any support from Democratic lawmakers, although more than 70% of Republicans in both houses endorsed it.
This move comes on the heels of a ruling by District Court Judge Deanna Gibson, who, appointed by former Governor Gary Herbert, mandated that the state redraw its congressional maps by August 2025. She criticized the existing maps for being “partisan gerrymandering.” The state’s Republican Party has appealed this ruling, which would give Democrats a slight edge on the Utah Supreme Court during the upcoming elections.
Currently, all four of Utah’s congressional districts are represented by Republicans. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has a comfortable lead in the 2024 presidential race, with projections showing at least a 19-point advantage. A restructured map—if adopted—could enable Democrats to flip a previously Republican seat, as it significantly favored Kamala Harris in the last election.
If Governor Cox appoints justices for the new positions, five out of seven justices will be his nominees. The Utah Senate, where Republicans hold a substantial majority, will need to approve these appointments.
Interestingly, all justices currently on the bench were appointed by Republican governors. One was appointed by former Governor Mike Leavitt, another by Herbert, and three by Cox himself.
Utah House Minority Leader Casey Snyder, a Republican who sponsored SB134, expressed skepticism about the expansion, stating that “it’s a fallacy that seven pairs of eyes are better than five pairs of eyes considering the most complex and difficult problems our state has ever faced.”
As of now, Cox’s office has not provided any comments regarding these developments.
