Utah Expands Supreme Court Amid Redistricting Dispute

Governor signs bill adding two new justices as state prepares appeal of congressional map ruling.

Jan. 31, 2026 at 4:23pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Utah Governor Spencer Cox has signed a bill expanding the state's Supreme Court from five to seven justices, a move that comes as Republican lawmakers prepare to appeal a court ruling that gave Democrats a stronger chance of picking up a congressional seat. The timing of the court expansion has raised concerns from Democrats about potential political motivations, though Cox has denied that the policy is politically driven.

Why it matters

The expansion of the Utah Supreme Court could influence the outcome of the upcoming appeal over the state's congressional redistricting plan, which has become a contentious partisan issue. The new justices appointed by the Republican governor could potentially sway the court's rulings on this and other high-stakes political matters.

The details

The bill to expand the Utah Supreme Court was approved by more than two-thirds of the state legislature, allowing it to take effect immediately after the governor's signature. This fast-tracked the process, bypassing the usual several-month waiting period. The new justices will be appointed by the governor and confirmed by the state Senate. Most states have either five or seven Supreme Court justices, and Utah's expansion will bring it in line with other states of similar size.

  • The Utah legislature has been preparing an appeal of a court ruling that gave Democrats a stronger chance of picking up a Republican-held congressional seat.
  • The new justices could be in place when the court decides the fate of the congressional map.

The players

Spencer Cox

The Republican governor of Utah who signed the bill expanding the state Supreme Court from five to seven justices.

Casey Snider

The Republican House Majority Leader and sponsor of the bill to expand the Utah Supreme Court.

John Pearce

A recently retired associate chief justice of the Utah Supreme Court who expressed doubts that the expansion would improve the court's efficiency.

Matthew Durrant

The current Chief Justice of the Utah Supreme Court, who urged legislators to add judges to lower courts instead of the Supreme Court.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Seven sets of eyes reviewing the most complex and difficult issues our state has ever faced is better than having only five sets of eyes.”

— Casey Snider, House Majority Leader (wral.com)

“If what the Legislature is hoping to do is speed up the work of the court, it's going to be counterproductive.”

— John Pearce, Recently retired associate chief justice (wral.com)

“The more sets of comments you have to take into account, the longer the process takes.”

— John Pearce, Recently retired associate chief justice (wral.com)

What’s next

The new justices appointed by Governor Cox could be in place when the Utah Supreme Court decides the fate of the state's congressional redistricting plan, which is currently under appeal.

The takeaway

The expansion of the Utah Supreme Court has raised concerns about potential political motivations, as it comes at a critical time for the state's redistricting process. The new justices could influence the court's rulings on this and other high-stakes political issues, potentially shifting the balance of power in the state.