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Lawmakers open discussion on expanding Utah Supreme Court as state grows
Summary
Speaker and members discussed a proposal from Representative Moss to increase the number of Utah Supreme Court justices, noting other states have increased court size and that selection methods are an open question; no formal plan or vote was finalized in the session.
A question from a member raised Representative Moss’s proposal to expand the Utah Supreme Court. The Speaker said other states such as Georgia and Arizona have expanded their courts and asked whether five justices remain sufficient as Utah grows: “Is 5 Supreme Court Justices enough?” the Speaker asked, framing the conversation around workload and state size rather than partisan motives.
When asked whether the bill would change how justices are selected, the Speaker said selection mechanisms are a separate discussion to take later: “I think that’s a discussion to have down the road. That’s not what this bill does.” The Speaker said various options used in other states — including selection by voters — are on the table but that no decision has been made.
Members pressed the potential political optics. One questioner noted that proposals to add justices at the federal level were labeled “court-packing,” and the Speaker responded that expanding a state court to address caseload and capacity is different and that Utah’s court size is low relative to states of similar population.
No final procedural steps, amendments or votes on a court-expansion bill were recorded in this session; the Speaker said the Legislature will continue to solicit feedback as the proposal moves through the process.
