SB2002 and SJR201 would change Utah civil code to expedite election-related cases directly to the Utah Supreme Court, instead of first going to district and circuit courts, and allows an appeal of a redistricting case to the high court even if the state’s attorney fees have yet to be resolved.

The special session of the Utah legislature began Tuesday with a committee meeting. The session was primarily called to address issues related to elections, court procedures, and constitutional

Within months of longtime state Sen. Daniel Thatcher of West Valley City resigning from the Republican Party in favor of the centrist Forward Party, he announced he would leave the Utah Legislature altogether. The young political party chose Thatcher’s successor, Emily Buss of Eagle Mountain, Thursday evening.

The Utah Legislature strongly rebuked the state judiciary Tuesday, condemning the courts over a recent ruling on redistricting that threw out a congressional boundary map created by lawmakers.