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WASHINGTON — Federal court hearings in Utah can expand to be held in southeastern Utah, after President Joe Biden signed a bill sponsored by Utah Rep. Celeste Maloy.
Maloy, a Republican from Cedar City who represents Utah's 2nd Congressional District, said her office has been contacted by several constituents in rural parts of the state who say the federal courts are difficult to access because federal law only allowed cases to be heard in Salt Lake City, Provo, Ogden and St. George. Maloy's HR8666 — which passed last month during the final days of the last Congress — allows the Central Division of Utah to hold court in Moab and Monticello.
"This is a win for all Utahns," Maloy said in a statement Wednesday. "When Utahns reached out about the difficulty in accessing federal courts, my office responded. Utahns east of Lake Powell have faced long travel distances to get to court, to perform jury duty or to testify in criminal proceedings. This bill will remove that burden for law enforcement, victims and every Utahn."
The bill was co-sponsored by then-Rep. John Curtis, another Republican who was sworn in to represent Utah in the U.S. Senate last week. Biden signed the bill into law on Saturday, along with dozens of other bills passed last year.
"Law and order is a cornerstone of the Constitution, and ensuring that all Utahns have equal access to justice is essential," Curtis stated. "This bill addresses the challenges that southeastern Utah residents face, harkening back to the values of our pioneer ancestors who laid the foundation of our great state. Just as they built communities, we must ensure that the justice system serves all Utahns, no matter where they live. With this bill's passage, we can ensure that rural Utahns have fair opportunities for a speedy trial and can fulfill their civic duties without undue burden."
Curtis also celebrated several of his final House bills being signed by Biden. Curtis was named one of the most effective lawmakers in the U.S. House in a 2023 report from the Center for Effective Lawmaking and had seven bills approved by Biden in recent days. The bills are primarily focused on the outdoors and include measures to address high salinity in the Colorado River, protect the Great Salt Lake and protect access to rock-climbing routes in wilderness areas.
"When I began my service in Congress, I could never have imagined how much we would accomplish," Curtis stated Tuesday. "I'm proud of the success we have in the House — including these seven bills I championed which were recently signed into law by the president. There is still much more work to be done, and I look forward to continuing my service on behalf of the people of Utah in the United States Senate."
