Senate Democrats are pushing back against two Utah Supreme Court confirmations, arguing the appointments are aimed at politicizing the state's highest court.

Why it matters: Changes to the judiciary follow several Supreme Court decisions, particularly on redistricting and abortion, that left Republicans furious.

Catch up quick: Gov. Cox signed a highly contested bill this year expanding the Utah Supreme Court from five justices to seven.

• Another state law signed last year gives the governor the power to select the chief justice, a decision previously made by the justices.

Driving the news: Cox nominated Jay Jorgensen, senior counsel for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Stephen Dent, an assistant U.S. attorney, to fill the newly created seats earlier this month. The Senate confirmed them last Wednesday.

• Neither have ever been judges, which Republicans say is not unprecedented in the state or U.S. supreme courts.

What they're saying: "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," Senate Democrats said in a statement Wednesday.

Zoom in: Democrats are also questioning whether Jorgensen meets the residency requirements.

• The Utah Constitution says justices must be state residents for five years prior to their appointments.
• Jorgensen lived in Chile while serving a church mission from 2022 to 2025, telling state lawmakers Wednesday that he did not permanently reside there and always intended to return, per Utah News Dispatch.
• His employment with the church has also raised eyebrows, given the institution's immense influence in the state.

What's next: Cox is poised to appoint two additional justices to the high court this year, following Chief Justice Matthew Durrant and Justice Diana Hagen's resignations.

• Durrant is retiring in August.
• Hagen resigned last month after Cox, Senate President Stuart Adams and House Speaker Mike Schultz called for an independent investigation into allegations that she had a conflict of interest in the redistricting case.
• A judicial commission previously looked into the complaint and found it lacked credibility, per the Salt Lake Tribune.

The bottom line: By year's end, six of the seven justices on the bench will have been chosen by Cox.

What we're watching: Republican leaders have vowed to continue fighting a state judge's ruling last year that created a Democratic-leaning congressional district.

• If new litigation arises, it could land in front of the new Utah Supreme Court.

Share this story

Coins and proclamations will represent Utah in a national time capsule honoring America's 250th birthday.

The intrigue: Utah's contributions barely acknowledge the state's iconic landscapes, focusing instead on Republican office-holders and industries like mining and railroads.

• Caveat: There is one quarter that depicts Arches and some 2002 Olympics memorabilia.

What's inside: Declarations from various state offices and lawmakers recognizing the anniversary, along with coins and pins that commemorate subjects like:

• Gov. Cox and his chief of staff, Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson, state AG Derek Brown, the state treasurer and auditor, House Speaker Mike Schultz, the Senate and its president, Stuart Adams;
• The Kennecott copper mine and Utah silver mining;
• Utah statehood in 1896;
• And the transcontinental railroad's 1869 completion.

Zoom in: We're also sending granite disks from the 1916 state Capitol and the 1853 Salt Lake Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The other side: While whoever opens the capsule might guess that Utah of 2026 was all business, there is some fun stuff, including a Lagoon ticket and tickets to long-ago attractions like the Saltair fun house and Black Rock Beach.

Fun fact: One of the coins honors author Zitkala-sa, who, like me, was born near Yankton, S.D. and later moved to Utah!

Tell a suit

The New York times reports that federal officials want to get rid of Salt Lake's planned detention center in a west side warehouse, prompting activists to celebrate. (FOX 13)

Residents in the Arlington Hills neighborhood in the Avenues were ordered to prepare for possible evacuation as a wildfire burned behind the U. (KUTV)

• Farther south, the town of Eureka was ordered to evacuate late Saturday due to a nearby wildfire in Juab County. As of Sunday, fire crews had managed to protect all buildings there from damage.

A teen hiker suffered critical injuries Friday from falling near Donut Falls in Big Cottonwood Canyon. (KSL)

If you never made it to a Sundance Film Festival screening in Utah, this might be your last chance.

Driving the news: Despite its move to Boulder next year, Sundance Institute is bringing back its Local Lens Program this summer.

State of play: The summer series will showcase four films featured at this year's Sundance Film Festival — for free.

• The movies will be screened July 18–19 at the Utah Film Center in Salt Lake City and the Library Center Theatre in Park City.

Zoom in: The program will include: "Union County," "Take Me Home," "The Lake" and "TheyDream," along with Q&As with some of the filmmakers.

If you go: Get your tickets online.

Tell a cinephile