Published by TrenBuzz.com | May 8, 2026
Key Points at a Glance – Utah Supreme Court Justice Diana Hagen Resigns
- Utah Supreme Court Justice Diana Hagen resigned effective immediately on May 8, 2026 — submitting her resignation letter to Governor Spencer Cox.
- The resignation follows allegations of an improper relationship with redistricting attorney David Reymann — allegations her own judicial conduct commission already dismissed.
- The Utah Judicial Conduct Commission unanimously voted NOT to pursue a full investigation, saying the complaint “lacked credibility.”
- Despite the dismissal, Gov. Cox, Senate President Stuart Adams, and House Speaker Mike Schultz called for an independent investigation — pressuring Hagen to step down.
- Hagen maintained: “I have faithfully upheld my oath to the Constitution” throughout her 26-year public service career.
- The allegations originated from Hagen’s ex-husband, who cited text messages during the breakdown of their 30-year marriage.
- Hagen voluntarily recused herself from all Reymann-related cases in May 2025 — before any formal complaint was filed.
- Before joining the Supreme Court, Hagen prosecuted the kidnapper of Elizabeth Smart and dedicated her career to fighting for crime victims.
- Utah State Bar executive director Elizabeth Wright warned the resignation creates a “chilling effect” on judicial independence.
- Governor Cox will now appoint a replacement justice — the process to fill the vacancy will be announced in the coming days.
After 26 years of public service, a dismissed misconduct investigation, and a fiercely personal fight to protect her family’s privacy, Diana Hagen walked away from Utah’s highest court on Friday under political pressure from the same party that had celebrated her appointment.
“It is with deep sadness that I tender my immediate resignation as a Justice of the Utah Supreme Court,” Hagen wrote in her resignation letter to Gov. Spencer Cox. “I do this with profound love and respect for my colleagues on the court, who are not only brilliant jurists but also dedicated, hard-working public servants. I sincerely regret the disruption my sudden departure will cause the court and the parties who come before it.”
The Allegations — What Was Actually Claimed
Hagen has been under pressure from Republican state leaders after allegations that she had an inappropriate relationship with a lawyer in Utah’s high-profile redistricting case. The allegations originally came from Hagen’s ex-husband, who said he suspected the justice began having an inappropriate relationship with the attorney around the time the couple’s marriage was deteriorating, citing text messages he said he had seen. The complaint was ultimately submitted by another attorney who spoke with the ex-husband.
Hagen’s resignation comes nearly a month after allegations surfaced about a possible connection between her and David Reymann, the former lead attorney for the League of Women Voters, who had argued that the Republicans’ proposed congressional maps were illegal. Hagen had denied a conflict of interest, stating that her last involvement in the redistricting case was in October 2024 and that she voluntarily recused herself from all cases involving Reymann in May 2025.
Already Cleared — The Commission Said “Not Credible”
Utah Supreme Court Justice Diana Hagen resigned following the controversy over an alleged inappropriate relationship, though the Utah Judicial Conduct Commission conducted an investigation and dismissed the complaint. The Judicial Conduct Commission voted not to pursue a full investigation after a preliminary investigator said the complaint against her lacked credibility.
Despite that dismissal, the political pressure from Utah’s Republican leadership did not stop — and ultimately proved more powerful than the commission’s own findings.
Hagen’s Own Words — Protecting Her Family
In her resignation letter, Hagen wrote that she understands that public officials “are rightly held to a higher standard and must accept a greater degree of public scrutiny and diminished privacy,” but said that her family and friends “do not deserve to have intensely personal details surrounding the painful dissolution of my 30-year marriage subjected to public scrutiny.”
“I would love nothing more than to continue serving the people of Utah as a Supreme Court justice, but I cannot do so without sacrificing the privacy and well-being of those I care about and the effective functioning and independence of Utah’s judiciary,” she wrote.
The Chilling Effect — What Legal Experts Are Warning
Utah State Bar executive director Elizabeth Wright warned the fallout from the situation creates a chilling effect on the whole judiciary. “When we start to have judges who are looking over their shoulder — ‘Will I be voted out? Will this be popular among voters?’ — it’s a blow to a fair and independent judiciary. We want judges who make decisions based on the facts and law in front of them.”
Wright thinks Hagen’s resignation might not resolve things, either — as the redistricting saga that triggered the allegations has already set off a wave of threats against Utah judges and court staff.
What Comes Next — A Vacancy on Utah’s Highest Court
Governor Cox, Senate President J. Stuart Adams, Speaker of the House Mike Schultz, and Chief Justice Matthew Durant issued a joint statement: “The judicial, executive, and legislative branches are committed to working together on potential reforms to the Judicial Conduct Commission — ensuring it upholds the highest standards of accountability and earns the confidence of the people of Utah.”
Speaker Schultz and President Adams stated: “We appreciate Justice Hagen’s resignation and her willingness to step aside in the best interest of the institution. We consider this matter related to Justice Hagen concluded and will not conduct any further investigations related to these specific allegations.”
Chief Justice Matthew Durrant paid tribute: “Justice Hagen has dedicated her legal career to public service. Before joining the Utah Supreme Court, she prosecuted the man responsible for kidnapping Elizabeth Smart and fought for justice for crime victims. As a Justice, her intellect and abilities are only matched by her kindness and generosity.”
Diana Hagen spent 26 years fighting for justice. On May 8, she resigned to protect the people she loves most from a fight she had already legally won — but politically lost.
Disclaimer: This article is for general informational and news reporting purposes only. All quotes, investigation details, and resignation letter excerpts are sourced from Fox News, KSLTV, ABC4 Utah, KUTV, KUER, and Utah News Dispatch as of May 8, 2026. The Utah Judicial Conduct Commission dismissed the complaint against Justice Hagen after finding it lacked credibility — she has not been charged with or convicted of any crime. TrenBuzz.com does not make independent legal assessments. Readers are encouraged to follow official Utah government and credible news sources for updates on the vacancy appointment process.