On Friday, Justice Diana Hagen of the Utah Supreme Court formally resigned, effective immediately, as announced to Governor Spencer Cox. This decision came in light of ongoing investigations into alleged connections with an attorney who was involved in a controversial redistricting lawsuit that reportedly benefited Democrats.
In her resignation letter, Hagen expressed her sorrow, highlighting her admiration for her fellow justices and acknowledging the challenges her exit posed for the court and its proceedings.
She mentioned deep feelings of regret but concluded that continuing her role would compromise the privacy of her loved ones and the court’s integrity. Hagen emphasized that while public officials are under greater scrutiny, her family members should not endure the personal fallout stemming from her professional responsibilities.
The resignation follows a series of public allegations ignited by a December 2025 ethics complaint filed by Michael Worley with the Judicial Conduct Commission, originating from claims made by her ex-husband, Tobin Hagen.
This complaint pointed to an improper association between Justice Hagen and attorney David Reymann, who represented several plaintiffs in a significant congressional redistricting case, asserting that this relationship might have influenced her judicial decisions.
Subsequent investigations into the complaint concluded that there was insufficient evidence to support claims of judicial misconduct, labeling the allegations as largely unsubstantiated and lacking credibility.
🚨New: The Utah Supreme Court Justice Diana Hagen has now resigned
She voted for the new Utah congressional map that gave Democrats an extra seat
The reason for her resignation is she allegedly had a romantic relationship with an attorney involved in the redistricting case pic.twitter.com/Uf9FIe0aVd
— The Calvin Coolidge Project (@TheCalvinCooli1) May 8, 2026
Despite the report’s findings, both Governor Cox and Republican leaders deemed the allegations serious and called for an independent inquiry following the public disclosure of the report in April 2026. After Hagen’s resignation, legislative officials confirmed that the matter was resolved, eliminating the need for further investigation.
This situation arose from the case League of Women Voters of Utah v. Utah State Legislature, which reached the Utah Supreme Court. In October 2024, Hagen contributed a decisive opinion that invalidated a proposed constitutional amendment regarding ballot language.
In November 2025, the court adopted a redistricting plan proposed by plaintiffs, maintaining much of Salt Lake County in a single district, which resulted in the creation of one Democratic-leaning seat in a predominantly Republican state. The Utah Supreme Court later dismissed the Legislature’s appeal on procedural grounds in February 2026.
A federal court also chose not to intervene, allowing the map to remain in effect for the 2026 elections.
Hagen had recused herself from further redistricting discussions after spring 2025, ensuring that the essential decisions made by the Supreme Court were unanimous, with all final procedural matters occurring after her withdrawal from the case.
