Admitted as the 45th state into the Union on January 4, 1896, Utah is a western US state which is the 13th largest state by area and the 31st most populous state in the country. The state is greatly influenced by the Mormon-religion (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints - LDS), with nearly 65% of its population being affiliated with the religion.

Utah is a central hub for the industries of technology, government services, research, mining, and is a major tourist destination in the country. LDS settlement in the state began in the 18th century, and to this date is the prominent group residing in the state.

Natural diversity ranging from mountains to sand dunes, pine forests and mountain valleys, are some of the distinguishing characteristics of the state’s topography. Utah is also known as one of the “Four Corners” of the US, which is comprised of Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, and Arizona. Like other states in the west, the federal government owns a majority of the land, nearly 70% in Utah. US Wilderness Areas, US National Monuments, National Recreational Areas, are found in profusion throughout the state, and preserved by Federal Government Agencies.

The state is prominently known for its major natural historic sites, and outdoor activities. Among the popular area attractions in the state include Salt Lake City which is home to several ski resorts and national parks, Utah Olympic Park, Capitol Reef National Park, Zion National Park, Lake Powell, Dead Horse Point National Park, and several others throughout the state, are visited by millions of tourists annually.

Utah’s state government is broken into three branches, the executive, judicial and legislative branch, like most states in the country.

• The executive branch in Utah is led by the governor.  The Governor can appoint a cabinet, and they run various state agencies.  Additional elected executive branch officials are the Lieutenant Governor, the Attorney General, State Treasurer and the State Auditor.
• The legislative branch consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
• The judicial branch consists of a Supreme Court, district courts, and other courts of record.

The state contributes 6 electoral votes during US Presidential Elections.

Topics ranging from non-compete agreements, labor and employment law, Medicaid and Medicare expansion, telemedicine and its growth, federal and state agency news and rulings, are among the stories covered for online visitors to the National Law Review website. In addition to these areas of law, visitors to the National Law Review can also find the latest news, litigation, and stories from the Tenth Federal Circuit Court of Appeals, and topics as they relate to the US and international stories, in relation to the state of Utah.