Speaker Mike Schultz of the Utah House of Representatives visited Uintah County on Monday to speak about the redistricting process and the selection of a map that many are calling an act of judicial activism. Speaker Schultz emphasized during Monday’s meeting that District Court Judge Dianna Gibson said that Proposition 4 must be followed, and yet, she did not follow its requirements. She created her own process outside of what the Constitution says and outside of Proposition 4 which the voters passed, said Schultz. She outlined a process that led the legislature to adopt Map C and then saved herself 40 days to make a decision of yes or no. Then, according to Speaker Schultz, 19 minutes before that deadline, Judge Gibson issued a ruling, threw out Map C, and picked a map drawn by a far left organization, the League of Women Voters, funded and financed by and with attorneys in Washington D.C. “One person, an unelected judge, made that decision,” said Speaker Schultz. “That should be scary to every one of us…Today it’s redistricting but what will it be next?” Tonight the Utah Legislature is having a special session to consider a joint resolution of the House of Representatives and the Senate regarding constitutional authority, including redistricting and the redistricting process.
