Utah Senate Democrats released the following statement after voting against the appointments of Jay Jorgensen and Stephen Dent to the Utah Supreme Court. The two positions were created through legislation passed during the 2026 legislative session:
“We have consistently opposed efforts to expand the Supreme Court and the taxpayer resources that expansion will require. We do not believe it is a coincidence that these appointments are being made as the Supreme Court prepares to hear major cases involving redistricting, reproductive rights, and other fundamental civil rights. We see this as a deliberate effort to inject partisanship into our Supreme Court and undermine the independence of Utah’s judicial branch. This action follows a broader pattern of decisions and legislation aimed at influencing, weakening, and retaliating against our judiciary.
“Additionally, we have serious concerns regarding whether Jay Jorgensen satisfies the constitutional residency requirements for service on the Utah Supreme Court, and we do not believe those concerns were fully addressed during the confirmation process. If challenged, they could ultimately result in costly litigation for Utah taxpayers. We also have concerns that both appointees lack the judicial experience for positions on the state’s highest court.”
