Diana Hagen Resignation Letter: Utah Supreme Court Justice Steps Down Amid Probe Into Alleged Relationship With Redistricting Attorney
Utah Supreme Court Justice Diana Hagen resigned effective immediately on Friday, May 8, 2026, submitting a resignation letter to Governor Spencer Cox that cited the need to protect her family's privacy while firmly denying any wrongdoing. The departure ends a 26-year career in public service and shakes the Utah judiciary at a politically charged moment.
What Diana Hagen's Resignation Letter Said
"It is with deep sadness that I tender my immediate resignation as a justice of the Utah Supreme Court," Hagen wrote. "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."
In her resignation letter, Hagen said 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.
Why Diana Hagen Resigned: The Allegations Explained
The resignation came about three weeks after Utah's top state leaders called for an independent investigation into previously investigated and dismissed allegations that she had an affair with an attorney. The Judicial Conduct Commission had already looked into and dismissed the allegations, voting not to pursue a full investigation after a preliminary investigator said the complaint lacked credibility.
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.
The attorney at the center of the allegations, David Reymann, had represented plaintiffs in the state's high-profile redistricting case. Hagen had recused herself from cases involving Reymann after saying she rekindled a friendship with him as her marriage broke down in spring 2025.
Political Pressure That Led to the Diana Hagen Resignation
Initially, as the allegations against Hagen became public, Governor Cox joined Senate President Stuart Adams and House Speaker Mike Schultz in announcing an independent investigation. They said they were troubled that the Judicial Conduct Commission did not fully investigate the matter after conducting only a preliminary investigation.
Cox had previously said he would be willing to consider voting "no" in her retention election or supporting her impeachment depending on investigation results. "When you sign up to be a judge in this state, you get held to a higher standard. Period. Everyone knows this. This is part of the deal. If you want your personal life to always be personal, then don't be a judge," Cox said.
Reactions to the Diana Hagen Resignation
Governor Cox, Senate President Adams, Speaker Schultz, and Chief Justice Matthew Durant issued a joint statement saying: "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 also said jointly: "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 Durrant called the resignation "a loss for the judiciary" and noted that before joining the bench, Hagen prosecuted the man responsible for kidnapping Elizabeth Smart and fought for justice for crime victims. Kim Cordova, president of the Utah State Bar, said the "entire bar and all lawyers and judges in the state of Utah hold Justice Hagen in the highest regard."
Governor Cox will now be tasked with naming Hagen's replacement. Diana Hagen had given 26 years to public service and spent nine years on Utah's appellate and high courts before her immediate departure from the bench.
