The Utah Senate voted Wednesday to confirm two new justices to the expanded Utah Supreme Court, approving Governor Spencer Cox’s nominees Jay Jorgensen and Stephen Dent. The confirmation of the two men fills seats created by a legislative expansion of the court from five to seven members.
Senate confirms two new justices
The Republican-controlled Senate approved the appointments on a party-line vote. As reported by Mid-Utah Radio, Jay Jorgensen advanced with a 22-to-7 vote, while Stephen Dent was confirmed with the support of all Republicans and one Democrat. The confirmation of both nominees followed a Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee hearing held on Friday, June 12.
Criticism of legislative court expansion
The expansion of the court from five to seven justices was made possible by the Republican-dominated Legislature during the 2026 legislative session. The move has faced intense criticism from Senate Democrats, who characterized the expansion as an attempt to influence judicial outcomes following recent rulings on abortion, ballot initiatives, and redistricting.
Democrats oppose expansion and costs
In a statement released after the vote, Utah Senate Democrats expressed opposition to both the expansion itself and the cost of taxpayer resources required for the new seats. The group noted that the timing of these appointments is significant as the court prepares to hear major cases involving reproductive rights and redistricting.
Senator Blouin criticizes reform efforts
Senator Nate Blouin, a Democrat from Salt Lake City who is running for the Democratic nomination in the new 1st Congressional District, criticized the expansion as "not good faith reform." He compared the move to "picking a new referee in the middle of the game because you don't like the score."
Concerns over nominees' professional backgrounds
Senate Democrats also raised concerns regarding the professional backgrounds of the nominees. Senator Jen Plumb, D-Salt Lake City, stated that she and her constituents opposed the expansion and noted that neither nominee had previously served as a lower court judge. Using a medical analogy, Plumb said that as a new doctor, she could not imagine performing surgery on someone without prior experience in the procedure.
Senator Brammer defends the appointments
Senator Brady Brammer, R-Pleasant Grove, defended the appointments, arguing that other justices have served on the court without prior lower court experience. He urged colleagues to measure the nominees by what they bring to the bench rather than using "a made-up qualification" that he described as helpful but not essential.
During his confirmation hearing, Jay Jorgensen faced rigorous questioning regarding whether he met the constitutional requirement of being a Utah resident for five years preceding his selection. Jorgensen, who attended law school at Brigham Young University, had spent 23 years living in South Korea, Arkansas, and Washington, D.C., before returning to Utah in early 2021.
Jorgensen also faced scrutiny after mistakenly telling Senator Stephanie Pitcher, D-Salt Lake City, that the residency requirement was not part of the constitution. Jorgensen maintained his status as a resident despite a period spent on a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Chile, stating he remained a resident because he owned a home in Provo and intended to return to the state.
The two new seats are being filled alongside other vacancies on the court. Former Justice Diana Hagen recently resigned following an investigation by Republican leaders into alleged misconduct, and Chief Justice Matthew Durrant has announced his retirement, effective in August.
Currently, Jorgensen serves as senior counsel for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where he manages Brigham Young University’s international educational programs for impoverished nations. Stephen Dent, a federal prosecutor serving in southern Utah, expressed profound emotion following the Senate's decision. "There are times in life that leave you awed," Dent told senators, describing a deep feeling of respect and reverence during the process.
Proponents of the court expansion argued the change was necessary to handle the state's rapid growth. However, the chief justice previously informed lawmakers that the court was not overloaded, noting that Supreme Court filings increased only slightly from 253 to 270 over a 15-year period.
One of the first major issues facing the newly expanded court will be challenges regarding a special three-judge panel created by the Legislature to hear constitutional challenges to laws. The court is scheduled to hear arguments on that case in September.
