League of Women Voters of Utah v. Utah State Legislature (LWV 1)
Plaintiffs claimed that congressional map is a partisan gerrymander in violation of state constitution. The suit alleged that the map intentionally dilutes the voting power of non-Republican voters by splitting Salt Lake County among each of the state’s four congressional districts. On October 24, 2022, a trial court declined to dismiss the plaintiffs’ partisan gerrymandering claims.
Utah Supreme Court sent case back to lower court to consider whether the legislature improperly infringed citizens’ lawmaking power when it overturned redistricting reforms passed by initiative. Voters’ rights to “reform and alter” the law is a fundamental right.
Note: The Brennan Center for Justice, which maintains State Court Report, filed an amicus brief in this case.
Related Commentary
2024’s Most Significant State Constitutional Cases
Legal experts identified the most important cases that advanced state constitutional rights this year.
State Courts Can Provide Much-Needed Protection From Voter Deception
This past election, some state courts stepped in to protect the citizen initiative process from state-sponsored deception, while others refused. Their decisions influenced election outcomes.
State Courts Can Provide Much-Needed Protection From Voter Deception
This past election, some state courts stepped in to protect the citizen initiative process from state-sponsored deception, while others refused. Their decisions influenced election outcomes.
What Does Popular Sovereignty Really Mean?
Two new essays unpack recent state supreme court cases about the relationship between direct democracy and the power of state legislatures.