Overview
- SB134 cleared the Legislature with a supermajority, triggering immediate effect and allowing Gov. Spencer Cox to begin nominating two justices subject to Senate confirmation.
- After the new seats are filled, Cox will have appointed five of the court’s seven justices.
- The measure also adds judges to the Court of Appeals and to district courts, but lawmakers still must approve implementation funding during the budget process.
- Democrats and the Utah State Bar oppose enlarging the high court, citing risks to judicial independence as the court prepares to hear a consequential redistricting case.
- Chief Justice Matthew Durrant says the Supreme Court has essentially no backlog, while sponsors contend a larger bench will improve capacity and align Utah with peer states.