Diana Hagen resigned from the Utah Supreme Court on May 8, saying the growing political and public scrutiny surrounding an investigation into her conduct had become too damaging for her family and the court.
The controversy centered on allegations that Hagen had an inappropriate relationship with attorney David Reymann, who represented plaintiffs in Utah’s high-profile congressional redistricting litigation. Hagen denied wrongdoing and said she had voluntarily recused herself from cases involving Reymann.
.jpg "Justice Diana Hagen of the Supreme Court resigns during the investigation by the Utah Legislature")
Earlier this year, top Utah Republican leaders — including Gov. Spencer Cox — called for further investigation after questions were raised about how the state’s Judicial Conduct Commission handled prior complaints against Hagen. The commission had already reviewed the matter and dismissed the complaint.
In her resignation letter, Hagen wrote that she wanted to continue serving but could not do so “without sacrificing the privacy and well-being” of people close to her and the “effective functioning and independence” of Utah’s judiciary.
Her departure creates another vacancy on the Utah Supreme Court, where lawmakers have already been battling over judicial power following contentious rulings on redistricting and other issues.
.jpg "Justice Diana Hagen of the Supreme Court resigns during the investigation by the Utah Legislature")
Diana Hagen resigned from the Utah Supreme Court on Friday after weeks of pressure from top Utah Republicans, including Spencer Cox, over allegations that she had an improper relationship with attorney David Reymann.
The controversy centered on a complaint filed with the state’s Judicial Conduct Commission (JCC) by an attorney representing Hagen’s ex-husband. The complaint alleged inappropriate communications between Hagen and Reymann while Reymann had cases before the court, including Utah’s high-profile congressional redistricting litigation.
The JCC conducted a preliminary review and dismissed the allegations, reportedly concluding they were “speculative, overstated, and misleading.” Despite that, Cox and Republican legislative leaders — including Mike Schultz and J. Stuart Adams — called for an additional independent investigation, saying unanswered questions remained.
.jpg "Justice Diana Hagen of the Supreme Court resigns during the investigation by the Utah Legislature")
In her resignation letter, Hagen said she still wanted to serve but could not continue without exposing her family and friends to intense public scrutiny surrounding the breakdown of her 30-year marriage. She also warned about damage to “the effective functioning and independence” of Utah’s judiciary.
Chief Justice Matthew Durrant praised Hagen’s service and described her departure as “a loss for the judiciary.” Utah legal organizations and judicial independence advocates also criticized the political pressure campaign against her, arguing the matter had already been reviewed through the proper constitutional process.
The resignation has intensified a broader debate in Utah over separation of powers and judicial independence. Critics argue Republican lawmakers escalated pressure after the Utah Supreme Court ruled against the Legislature in major cases, including a redistricting dispute. Earlier this year, lawmakers also approved expanding the court by two seats, a move opponents described as “court packing.”
Hagen, appointed by Cox in 2022, had previously served on the Utah Court of Appeals and was known for prosecuting the kidnapping case involving Elizabeth Smart.