Stuart Adams

In addition to adding two justices to the state’s highest court, the law also adds judges to the Utah Court of Appeals and three of the state’s eight district courts.

Utah's self perception was fundamentally changed by gun violence in 2025 between a protest shooting and the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Does that shift also apply to the laws the Legislature debates?

Utah’s Department of Transportation bought 7 acres from Stuart Adams’ development company — more than the highway project needed. An auction to sell off the land at a state profit was later abruptly canceled.

GOP lawmakers want the Utah Supreme Court to overturn the new map before the 2026 midterms.

La jueza del Tercer Distrito Dianna Gibson rechazó el mapa de la Legislatura en un fallo del 10 de noviembre para cumplir con un plazo establecido por la Oficina de la vicegobernadora. Ahora, los legisladores republicanos la acusan de ignorar la Constitución de Utah.

Third District Court Judge Dianna Gibson rejected the Legislature's map in a Nov. 10 ruling to meet a deadline set by the Lt. Governor's Office. Now, Republican lawmakers are accusing her of disregarding the Utah Constitution.

Senate President Stuart Adams and Speaker of the House Mike Schultz called it a “misguided court ruling” and groused about the “arbitrary” timeline, but said they will ultimately redraw the maps.

“The people have spoken. The courts have spoken,” said Emma Petty Addams, co-executive director of Mormon Women for Ethical Government. “Now is time to move forward with cooperation and respect for the rule of law.”

Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall said the city has improved ”the pieces of the system that we control,” and the Legislature now needs to take action to help.

Gov. Spencer Cox let a June 21 deadline to call a special election pass and instead sent the referendum to the November 2026 general election.

It was a tense session between Utah’s legislative and judicial branches, even so, Gov. Spencer Cox says he does not want more power over who leads the highest court in the state.

The agreement comes after a tense standoff between GOP lawmakers and leaders in the judicial branch over efforts to reform parts of Utah’s court system.