Utah Judge Resigns Amid Ethics Questions
Utah’s Supreme Court is now dealing with a serious ethics headache.
Justice Diana Hagen resigned after accusations surfaced that she may have had an inappropriate relationship with David Reymann, a lawyer tied to a high-profile gerrymandering case in the state. Reymann represented the League of Women Voters in a legal fight over Republican-backed congressional maps, and that connection is what made the situation blow up fast.
Hagen sent her resignation to Republican Governor Spencer Cox. In her letter, she said the decision came with “deep sadness” and “profound love and respect” for her colleagues. She also said she hoped her exit would keep more noise away from the court.
Still, the timing raised eyebrows. News of the alleged relationship came out only weeks before her resignation. Before stepping down, Hagen denied any conflict of interest and said she had not worked on the redistricting case since late 2024. Then, in May 2025, she recused herself from cases involving Reymann.
That did not end the matter. The Utah Judicial Conduct Commission moved forward with an independent review after a formal complaint was filed. In April, Governor Cox and Republican legislative leaders Mike Schultz and Stuart Adams also ordered an official inquiry into the misconduct claims.
The case matters because redistricting fights in Utah have been intense. Republican lawmakers drew the maps. Critics said the maps hurt Democrats. Supporters said the challenge was just partisan politics dressed up as a legal issue. Now the ethics question around a sitting justice has only made the whole thing messier.
Hagen had a long legal career before reaching the high court. She spent years as a prosecutor and was seen by many as a strong pick for the bench. That makes the fallout sting even more. A judge’s job is supposed to be above all this. When personal and political lines get blurry, public trust takes a hit.
Hagen wrote that she regretted the “disruption” caused by her “sudden departure.” That may be true. But the bigger story is harder to ignore. In a case already loaded with political tension, even the appearance of bias can be enough to shake confidence in the system.
Her resignation leaves an open seat on the state’s highest court and leaves plenty of questions still hanging in the air.