Utah AG Launches Federalism Section to Defend State Sovereignty

Detected March 20th, 2026

Summary

The Utah Attorney General's office has established a new Federalism and Strategic Litigation Section. This section will focus on defending state sovereignty and constitutional authority in legal battles, aiming to influence national policy and represent Utah's interests.

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What changed

The Utah Attorney General's office has announced the creation of a new Federalism and Strategic Litigation Section. This initiative is designed to enhance Utah's capacity to defend its constitutional authority and state sovereignty in legal disputes. The section will be led by litigators with expertise in constitutional law and complex litigation, and its mandate includes leading lawsuits, coordinating multistate efforts, and representing Utah's interests in cases that shape national policies.

This development signifies a proactive approach by the Utah AG's office to assert its role within the federal system. While this is an internal organizational change and not a new regulation, it indicates a strategic focus on legal challenges related to federalism. Compliance officers should note this as an indicator of potential future litigation or policy advocacy originating from Utah concerning the balance of state and federal power.

Source document (simplified)

Utah Attorney General launches new section to defend federalism and state sovereignty

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — The Office of the Utah Attorney General has unveiled an exciting new initiative: the Federalism and Strategic Litigation Section. This bold move enhances Utah’s ability to safeguard its sovereignty, defend its constitutional authority, and influence national legal battles.

Led by litigators Josh Cutler and Mark Gillespie—authorities in constitutional law and complex litigation—this new section is set to make a significant impact. Utah Attorney General Derek Brown highlighted the importance of federalism to the U.S. Constitution, and emphasized that federalism requires that states are ready and willing to defend their constitutional roles.

Attorney General Brown praised this new section for its combination of deep constitutional knowledge and strategic litigation expertise, stating it will allow Utah to be more proactive, coordinated, and effective in safeguarding Utah’s sovereignty. “This effort ensures that our voice is heard in critical legal disputes shaping policies beyond our borders,” he said.

With impressive backgrounds—including clerkships with the Utah Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court, as well as work at prominent law firms—Cutler and Gillespie bring invaluable experience to this initiative. The section will lead lawsuits and initiatives to maintain the constitutional balance between state and federal authority, coordinate multistate and amicus efforts, and vigorously represent Utah’s interests in high-stakes cases nationwide.