By Aidan Mortensen | KOAL News
In a statement released Monday, the Utah judiciary decried threats received by Judge Dianna Gibson and court staff following her ruling in the state’s congressional redistricting battle.
“Though the Utah Judiciary does not comment on the specifics of any threats made toward judges or court employees, we acknowledge that such incidents have recently occurred,” reads a statement from the court. “Threats of violence against judges or court personnel are unacceptable, dangerous, and may violate state or federal law. Any conduct aimed at causing fear for a ruling or undermining the safe operation of the justice system strikes at the heart of the rule of law.”
Gibson has been the center of public backlash following her ruling rejecting a congressional map drawn by the state legislature and selecting one drawn by a pair of voting-rights groups.
The ruling drew the ire of Republican lawmakers, including Rep. Matt MacPherson (R-Salt Lake), who went so far as to say he had filed articles of impeachment against Gibson for a “gross abuse of power,” among other grievances. Other lawmakers accused Gibson of “legislating from the bench” and of “judicial activism.”
I have opened a bill to file articles of impeachment against Judge Gibson for gross abuse of power, violating the separation of powers and failing to uphold her oath of office to the Utah Constitution.
— Matt MacPherson (@UtahVote4Matt) November 11, 2025
Following these calls for impeachment, a spokesperson for the Utah State Bar released a statement reading, “The Utah State Bar strongly condemns any effort to impeach Judge Dianna Gibson based on her recent ruling. Judges are charged with applying the law to the facts of their cases without regard to politics or public opinion. Using impeachment as retaliation for an unfavorable decision undermines the rule of law and the separation of powers that safeguard our system of government.”
” Judges have a constitutional duty to apply the law to the facts before them, independent of external pressures. That independence is essential to preserving the separation of powers and ensuring that justice is administered fairly and impartially,” continued the court. “When parties disagree with a judicial ruling, the appropriate and lawful avenue for addressing those concerns is the established appellate process. Utah’s courts provide a structured and transparent system for reviewing decisions and correcting potential errors, reinforcing public confidence in the integrity of the judicial process.”