SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) A judge in Utah has ruled against the state Legislature in its redistricting case, ruling that current congressional boundaries are the result of lawmakers unconstitutionally overturning a citizen ballot initiative that created an independent redistricting commission.

The ruling from Utah Third District Judge Dianna Gibson dictates that those maps must be tossed out and that the citizen-approved Proposition 4, which prohibited partisan gerrymandering, is now the law governing redistricting in Utah.

The highly anticipated ruling is a major decision from the lower courts, which outlines that the legislature has 30 days to draw the new maps that satisfy the anti-gerrymandering requirements in Prop 4.

“Redistricting is a legislative function,” Gibson wrote in her ruling. “The Legislature and the People equally share legislative power.”

She added that because of that, redistricting is “subject to a state’s ‘ordinary constraints on law-making’ including the gubernatorial veto, citizen referendum and citizen initiatives.”

Gibson also ruled that by unconstitutionally repealing Prop 4, the legislature violated “the people’s fundamental right to reform redistricting in Utah and to prevent bipartisan gerrymandering.”

This ruling marks the latest entry in that complex saga that began in 2018, when voters passed a citizen ballot initiative run by Better Boundaries. The initiative, better known as Prop 4, created an independent redistricting commission to draw new boundary lines for Utah’s congressional districts.

In 2020, the Utah Legislature watered down Prop 4, gutting the commission created by the initiative in S.B. 200 and replacing those maps with its own in H.B. 2004.

In their lawsuit, plaintiffs League of Women Voters of Utah, Mormon Women for Ethical Government, and others argue the lines break up Salt Lake City into four districts, diluting minority votes in the traditionally red state. Plaintiffs also argue Utahns have a constitutionally protected right to “alter and reform” their government, which they attempted to do via Prop 4 before it was altered by the legislature.

The Utah Supreme Court upheld that right in a major ruling last year, kicking the case back down into Utah’s lower court. Utah’s top lawmakers discredited the ruling, calling it the “worst decision they’ve ever seen.” Earlier this year, both parties argued the merits of the case before Judge Gibson.

The decision proposes a timeline to govern redistricting proceedings between now and November 1, 2025, as Utah Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson has asked the court for the case to be finalized by November so that if new lines need to be drawn, they can be drawn before the 2026 midterm elections.

This timeline states that the Legislature has 30 days, until Sept. 25, to design a remedial congressional map that complies with Prop 4. The plaintiffs and other third parties will also be able to propose maps if the legislature does not propose a map or they feel that the remedial map does not comply with Prop 4.

From there, plaintiffs will be able to file objections to the proposed map by Oct. 3.

It’s widely anticipated that this ruling will be appealed to the Utah Supreme Court.

The court has set a Status Conference for Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, at 10 a.m., where the plaintiffs and the defendants will need to discuss the proposed schedule and request any modifications.

At a news conference following the release of the decision, Executive Director of Better Boundaries Elizabeth Rasmussen celebrated the ruling, calling it a major win for “the future of citizen-led reform in this state.”

“We are thrilled that the court has reaffirmed what we have known all along, that the people have co-equal lawmaking authority with the Legislature, that the Legislature violated the Utah constitution when they overturned Proposition 4, and that Utahns deserve fair, independent maps they voted for almost seven years ago,” she said.

David Reymann, the Plaintiffs’ Attorney, called the ruling a watershed moment in Utah. “We have maintained from the start that the Legislature in this state is not king, that their power derives from the people, and they exist to serve the will of the people, and today, the voice of Utah voters was vindicated by the district court,” he said.

Utah lawmakers respond to decision

Following the decision, Utah House Republicans and Utah Senate Republicans released a joint statement through Senate President J. Stuart Adams and House Speaker Mike Schultz, expressing their disappointment but continued commitment to Utah voters.

“While disappointed by the court’s decision, we remain committed to protecting the voices of Utahns and upholding the Legislature’s state and federal constitutional authority to draw congressional districts. We will carefully review the ruling and consider our next steps.”

President J. Stuart Adams and Speaker Mike Schultz

State Senator Nate Blouin (D-13) also responded to the ruling, calling this a “clear win” for Utah voters and stating that “democracy works best when the people–not politicians–decide how their voices are represented.”

“Gerrymandering is not a Republican problem or a Democratic problem—it’s a problem for our democracy. Members of both parties have supported lines drawn to protect themselves instead of their communities. That is why an independent commission is so critical: to take the power away from politicians who have every incentive to look out for their own interests.”

Sen. Nate Blouin (D-13)

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Utah House Democrats also celebrated the decision, echoing statements that this is a “victory for the people of Utah.”

This decision is a powerful affirmation that voters of all backgrounds deserve a voice in the democratic process. Our caucus remains unwavering in our commitment for fair, transparent and representative district boundaries that reflect the true diversity of our state—not maps designed to protect partisan interests. We stand ready to support and fully engage in the redistricting process to ensure that all Utahns are represented in Congress.”

Utah House Democrats

Utah Senate Democrats also called this decision a “major victory” in a statement.

This ruling is a major victory for Utahns and for our democracy. This decision offers hope amid a national wave of aggressive partisan gerrymandering. We are encouraged to see Utah’s judicial system setting a standard for the nation. As we move forward, we call on our colleagues across the aisle to embrace this ruling and work together to create fair congressional maps that reflect the will of the people.”

Utah Senate Democrats

The Utah Democratic Party released a statement calling for the Legislature to “respect the court’s ruling and the will of the people, and to work transparently with independent experts to create districts that reflect the true makeup of our state.”

Utah Democratic Part Chair Brian King said, “Today’s district court ruling is a major victory for voters, and a major blow to extreme, out-of-touch politicians. Finally, despite the best efforts of the legislative supermajority, Utahns will be getting fair maps and real representation, something they voted for nearly eight years ago. Utah Democrats are ready to hit the ground running next year, and we look forward to holding Republicans accountable to their constituents in these new, fairly-drawn districts.”