Overview
- Chief Justice Matthew Durrant used his State of the Judiciary to warn against personal attacks on judges and to urge critiques focused on legal merits.
- Senate Majority Whip Chris Wilson proposed adding two Utah Supreme Court justices and expanding the Court of Appeals to nine judges, with a hearing set for Thursday.
- Durrant asked lawmakers to prioritize unmet needs in lower courts, requesting $6 million for staff retention and training, eight district judges, one juvenile judge, four commissioners, and one to two appellate judges.
- Durrant defended Utah’s appointment-based selection of judges after suggestions to explore elections, noting the Supreme Court has cleared its pandemic backlog.
- Responses varied, with some Republicans backing merits-based disagreement and others faulting recent rulings, as supporters cite efficiency and critics warn of political court-stacking; Gov. Spencer Cox has proposed funding for potential additions.