02-04-2025
Judge over gerrymandering case against Utah legislature asks for clarification over tossing maps
NOTE: A lawsuit represents one side of a story.
SALT LAKE CITY () — The lower court judge presiding over a is asking for the parties to provide more arguments over tossing out Utah's current congressional maps — signaling that a resolution to the suit could be nearing.
According to an order issued March 31, Third District Judge Dianna Gibson is asking for additional information from the lawyers representing the plaintiffs — who are the , , and seven Salt Lake residents.
The group is suing the legislature, arguing that Utah's current congressional boundaries should be thrown out. The plaintiffs argue the legislature violated Utahns' rights when lawmakers overturned a citizen-backed independent commission and its anti-gerrymandering criteria, created by Proposition 4, to draw those lines.
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Specifically, Judge Gibson is asking for more arguments on whether she can just toss the maps because the legislature didn't comply with Prop 4's criteria, or if an evidentiary hearing would be needed to determine if the maps are indeed unlawful.
'Is that alone sufficient legal basis to grant a permanent injunction of SB 200?' Judge Gibson asked.
Furthermore, the judge wants more arguments on why she should permanently toss the legislature's maps.
'The (plaintiffs) did not cite any legal or factual authority, but an injunction of SB200 was not before the court,' the order says.
The groups argued that because said lawmakers do not have unlimited power to repeal ballot initiatives; rather, when an initiative 'alters or reforms' government, any changes must be 'narrowly tailored to advance a compelling government interest,' the same standard should apply to the permanant injunction.
'Please clarify the legal basis for Plaintiffs' position that a permanent injunction of SB 2004 is an appropriate remedy if the court grants Plaintiffs' Motion…' Judge Gibson writes.
The order asks for the additional arguments by the end of the day on April 8, at which point the legislature would have about a week to file its response. The plaintiffs would be given another opportunity to reply if they choose to do so.
It's unclear when a ruling in the case might be coming, and the order does not mean the ruling will toss out the maps. However, it does signal that the judge has gotten to the point where she's asking about what the remedy might be.
This complex case started back in 2018, when a , was passed by voters, creating an independent redistricting commission to draw the new boundaries Utah uses today.
In 2020, the Utah Legislature watered down Prop 4, — and the plaintiffs argue those maps are gerrymandered.
In 2022, the plaintiffs sued, arguing the lines 'crack' Salt Lake into four districts to dilute minority votes in the Republican stronghold and that Utahns have a constitutionally protected right to 'alter and reform' their government — which they attempted to do via Prop 4.
In 2024, the that top lawmakers called the worst decision they've ever seen. That ruling kicked the case back to the lower courts to determine its fate.
In January of 2025, the parties argued the merits of the case before Gibson. Lt. Governor Deidre Henderson has asked that the case be finalized before November 1 so that if new lines need to be drawn, they can be drawn before the 2026 midterm elections.
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