Utah Supreme Court

Democrats questioned whether new Justice Jay Jorgensen meets the constitutional residency requirement to be on the state’s highest courts. They also had concerns because Jorgensen and Justice Stephen Dent will be first-time judges.

Cox appointed Jay Jorgensen and Stephen Dent to fill the two vacancies created after the Legislature expanded Utah's highest court. But the governor also has two more appointments to make.

Robinson’s defense attorneys are asking the Utah Supreme Court to take up the issue of whether cameras should be allowed in the courtroom for this extraordinarily high-profile case.

Durrant was the longest-serving Chief Justice in Utah history. His departure comes as there are three other vacancies on the state’s highest court.

After Justice Diana Hagan’s resignation, fresh faces will reshape the Utah Supreme Court. Critics still see the changes as “politically motivated and a form of court packing.”

Hagen had been under the scrutiny of Republican state leaders over an alleged relationship with an attorney representing the plaintiffs in Utah’s redistricting case.

Douglas Stewart Carter is asking a judge to throw out his aggravated murder case. The Utah Supreme Court last year ordered a new trial due to misconduct by investigators.

Speaking to the Utah State Bar, Justice Petersen reviewed the just-finished 2026 legislative session and defended judicial independence.

The justices didn’t wade into the substance of the case, but dismissed the appeal because it was procedurally improper.

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.

The court of State Street is now in session. We ask the Legislature to approach the bench and unpack their arguments for adding more justices to the Utah Supreme Court.

A bill separate from the Utah Supreme Court proposal wants to add more judges for district courts, the juvenile court and the Court of Appeals. It’s an idea with broader agreement.