Utah has filed a lawsuit petitioning the U.S. Supreme Court to transfer 18.5 million acres of federally-controlled land to state control. The state has spent over $1 million on a public relations campaign, including $475,000 on a law firm charging high hourly rates. The case questions whether the Bureau of Land Management can hold land without designation, a claim the Department of Justice called “without merit.”
The state is utilizing original jurisdiction to petition directly to the Supreme Court. Funding for the lawsuit comes from $3 million allocated by lawmakers, with a total of $20 million set aside. The state has spent significant amounts on advertising, with a contract with Penna Powers for a long-term campaign. However, critics, including the Center for Western Priorities, have called the campaign disingenuous and a propaganda effort.
The Supreme Court will decide in January whether to hear the case, with oral arguments expected in the spring if accepted. If denied, Utah may file a complaint in a federal district court.
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