Utah Gov. Spencer Cox signed legislation Saturday that expands the Utah Supreme Court from five justices to seven — a controversial move as lawmakers prepare to appeal a major redistricting ruling to the state’s highest court.
The bill, Senate Bill 134, also adds two justices to the Court of Appeals and three more district court judges.
Because the Utah State Legislature passed the bill with a supermajority, it took effect immediately, allowing the new seats to be filled right away.
Republican lawmakers and Cox argue the expansion will improve efficiency and better align Utah with states of similar size that have larger high courts. Cox has denied that the move is politically motivated, noting that all current justices were appointed by Republican governors and confirmed by a Republican Senate.
Democrats and some legal observers argue the timing — right as a redistricting appeal heads to the court — suggests a political motive to influence outcomes.
The Utah State Bar also raised concerns that the expansion and related changes could undermine judicial independence.
The expansion comes as Utah Republicans finalize their appeal of an August 2025 ruling that invalidated the state’s congressional map — a decision that could reshape Utah’s congressional districts ahead of the 2026 elections.
The fight centers on whether the judge-ordered map, which created a heavily Democratic district centered in Salt Lake City, should stand.
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