Utah Legislature asks judge to move quickly so they can appeal new congressional map

SALT LAKE CITY – Utah lawmakers are asking a state judge to certify her November ruling on the state’s new congressional map by next week so they can appeal the decision, according to court documents filed Thursday.

That ruling last month from 3rd District Judge Dianna Gibson rejected a map drawn by Republican lawmakers in favor of one submitted by plaintiffs who sued over the 2021 congressional map, which they said unfairly favored Republicans.

In their court filing Thursday, attorneys for the Legislature say they can’t appeal the decision without final judgment. They asked Gibson to get that done by Dec. 17.

“Any delay in entering final judgment … would prejudice legislative defendants’ ability, acting on behalf of their constituents and Utah voters, to seek further appellate review,”