Utah judge selects new congressional map, tossing map drawn by lawmakers

SALT LAKE CITY — A Utah judge ruled late Monday that a map drawn by state lawmakers and submitted by the Utah Legislature unfairly favored Republicans. Judge Dianna Gibson of Utah's 3rd District Court made the late-night ruling and selected a map, referred to as "Map 1," brought by plaintiffs in the case: the League of Women Voters of Utah and Mormon Women for Ethical Government. The ruling narrowly upheld the Nov. 10 deadline to select a new map in the state ahead of the 2026 midterm election. The map drawn by lawmakers, referred to as "Map C," was submitted to the court in September after Gibson initially ordered the existing map be redrawn to better align with the state's redistricting law, Proposition 4. Map 1 was drawn to include nearly the whole of Salt Lake County, while Map C splits the state's only Democratic county into different districts.The decision prompted Gov. Spencer Cox to call the Legislature into a special session, where Map C was selected and submitted. In October, Map C was contested in court after a series of statistical tests were performed. A witness called by plaintiffs suggested that, based on the data collected, Map C was "more heavily Republican than almost all of the computer-simulated plans.” As lawmakers argued the fairness of Map C in court, the GOP quickly implemented a new repeal of Proposition 4 and referendum to throw out the very map being argued for in court. Republicans later abandoned the referendum plan after it became unfeasible to gather the signatures required in time, and now seek to repeal Prop 4 with a ballot initiative instead.

Mixed reaction

By midnight, Rep. Matt MacPherson, R-West Valley City, threatened to file articles of impeachment against Judge Gibson, while others called her decision a display of "judicial activism." MacPherson told KSL TV he filed a bill to open articles of impeachment as a placeholder "until poll of the House confirms enough intent to move forward," he said. The Utah State Bar retaliated against the notion Tuesday afternoon, saying it "strongly condemns any effort to impeach Judge Dianna Gibson based on her recent ruling."

Judges are charged with applying the law to the facts of their cases without regard to politics or public opinion. Using impeachment as retaliation for an unfavorable decision undermines the rule of law and the separation of powers that safeguard our system of government. The judiciary must remain free from political pressure so all Utahns can have confidence in fair, impartial courts. Impeachment is reserved for serious misconduct, and disagreement should instead be addressed through the appeals process. We urge all public officials and Utahns to respect the role of the judiciary and the independence of Utah’s courts.

Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson stated contrarily that she would comply with Gibson's ruling and immediately implement Map 1 "unless otherwise ordered by an appeals court." Later on Tuesday morning, Henderson said there "will likely be an emergency appeal," but defended her move to waste no time in making the change. "...the process of finalizing new boundary details will take weeks of meticulous work on the part of state and county officials," she wrote. "Barring an appellate court ruling, we must begin without delay to ensure that everything is in place for candidate filing in January. The people of Utah deserve an orderly and fair election and we will do everything in our power to administer one." Simultaneously, Utah Democrats celebrated the decision:

We, the Utah House and Senate Democrats, feel a deep sense of hope and relief following Judge Gibson’s decision to adopt the plaintiffs’ Map 1. This is a win for every Utahn. We took an oath to serve the people of Utah, and fair representation is the truest measure of that promise.

Utah legislative leaders, President J. Stuart Adams and Speaker Mike Schultz, issued their own statement Tuesday afternoon:

Late last night, a single unelected judge set aside the Utah Constitution and the voice of Utah voters, selecting a map drawn behind closed doors by out-of-state advocacy groups. The process the judge chose denied the people of Utah a chance to see it, to weigh in, or to be heard. The judge disregarded the Constitution to select a clearly gerrymandered map. This is not fair to Utahns and is deeply disappointing. This isn’t how government should work. Our system depends on transparency, accountability, and respect for the roles defined in our Constitution. Judges are meant to uphold the law as written, not rewrite it to serve political ends. Nothing in Utah’s Constitution gives the courts authority to impose maps designed by private groups. Redistricting is not a courtroom exercise; it is a constitutional duty entrusted to the Legislature, the body directly elected and accountable to Utahns. When that process is overridden, it weakens the voice of every Utahn. Utahns deserve leaders who will defend their voice, their Constitution, and the balance of powers that make our system work. This moment calls for unity and resolve, to stand together, but firmly, in defense of the principles that make Utah strong and the Republic process we all depend on.

"You had a far left organization provide the map, that's not what the people voted for," Schultz said to KSL TV in an interview. Schultz believed that the judge crossed the line by interfering with what the Utah legislature is supposed to be in charge of. "This map is gerrymandered for Democrats," he said. "The judge didn't follow Prop. 4. The judge laid out a process that didn't follow what the people voted on. Judges are there to interpret the law, not make up the law." However, Kim Cordova, the president of the Utah State Bar, is standing by Gibson's ruling and worries that impeachment is an overstep by lawmakers. "What Judge Gibson did is that she followed the rules, she followed the law, and she applied the facts that were before her to the law and that resulted in her ruling," Cordova said to KSL TV. At a press conference held by Better Boundaries Tuesday, plaintiffs spoke, beginning with MWEG Coexecutive Director Emma Petty-Addams: "Today the people of Utah are getting what they voted for seven years ago," she said. "A fair map." Better Boundaries, a key group behind the Prop 4 legislation, defended the ruling, saying it reaffirms "that the voices of Utah voters matter and that our elected officials must respect the will of the people they represent." Executive Director Elizabeth Rasmussen continued in a statement:

While the legislature may appeal this decision, today's ruling establishes precedent that protects not only redistricting reform but all future citizen initiatives that seek to improve our government. This victory belongs not only to the brave plaintiffs and their attorneys, but to every Utahn who has supported our efforts. Through signing petitions, voting for Proposition 4, donating to our legal fund, or simply staying engaged throughout this long process, your persistence has paid off. Thank you!

Contributing:Brian Carlson and Dan Rascon, KSL TV

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