Utah legislation · 2026 General Session
Utah HJR13: Proposal to Amend Utah Constitution - Judicial Retention
Status: Failed, March 6, 2026
This joint resolution of the Utah Legislature proposes to amend the Utah Constitution to modify provisions related to retention of judges.
What the bill says
To Amend Utah Constitution - Judicial Retention 2026 GENERAL SESSION STATE OF UTAH Chief Sponsor: Walt Brooks Senate Sponsor: LONG TITLE General Description: This joint resolution of the Utah Legislature proposes to amend the Utah Constitution to modify provisions related to retention of judges. Highlighted Provisions: This resolution proposes to amend the Utah Constitution to: - authorize the Legislature to initiate a special retention process that allows the voters to vote on whether a judge shall remain in office when a judge engages in certain conduct…
From the introduced text, January 16, 2026:
to Amend Utah Constitution - Judicial Retention 2026 GENERAL SESSION STATE OF UTAH Chief Sponsor: Walt Brooks Senate Sponsor: LONG TITLE General Description: This joint resolution of the Utah Legislature proposes to amend the Utah Constitution to modify provisions related to retention of judges. Highlighted Provisions: This resolution proposes to amend the Utah Constitution to: - authorize the Legislature to initiate a special retention process that allows the voters to vote on whether a judge shall remain in office when a judge engages in certain conduct; and - provide that a judge who is subject to a special retention election is still subject to a regular retention election but that the special retention election may replace the regular retention election if the elections occur in the same year. Other Special Clauses: This resolution directs the lieutenant governor to submit this proposal to voters. This resolution provides a contingent effective date of January 1, 2027 for this proposal. Utah Constitution Sections Affected: AMENDS: Article VIII, Section 9 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, two-thirds of all members elected to each of the two houses voting in favor thereof: Section 1. It is proposed to amend Utah Constitution, Article VIII, Section 9 to read Article VIII, Section 9 . [Judicial retention elections.] (1) Each appointee to a …