Full Breakdown
Utah Supreme Court Justice Diana Hagen Resigns Amid Text Allegations
5/12/2026, 5:11:47 AM
Resignation of Justice Diana Hagen
Justice Diana Hagen announced her immediate resignation on a Friday after her ex-husband, Tobin Hagen, filed a complaint alleging she exchanged suggestive text messages with attorney David Reymann, who was arguing a congressional redistricting case before the Utah Supreme Court. Hagen had recused herself from the case, citing a “renewed friendship” with Reymann, and later withdrew from all matters involving him. The Judicial Conduct Commission (JCC) dismissed the allegations as “misleading,” yet Republican lawmakers continued to press for scrutiny, prompting the governor and legislative leaders to order an independent investigation.
Timeline
September 2024 saw Hagen suggest divorce; a friendship with Reymann began later that year. Her last participation in the redistricting case occurred in October 2024. Tobin discovered the texts in February 2025. Hagen voluntarily recused herself from all Reymann matters in May 2025, a recusal reflected in the Court’s September 15 2025 opinion. She submitted her resignation letter on a Friday in 2025. In April 2026 the Utah Supreme Court issued a statement praising Hagen’s “prompt, prudent, and transparent steps.”
Official Statements & Responses
In her resignation letter, Hagen expressed “deep sadness” and noted that public officials face heightened scrutiny while pleading for her family’s privacy. Governor Spencer Cox, Senate President J. Stuart Adams, and House Speaker Mike Schultz released a joint statement pledging an independent probe to “ensure the facts are fully examined” and to preserve public confidence. The Utah Supreme Court highlighted Hagen’s “prompt, prudent, and transparent steps” after the allegations. The JCC characterized the complaints as “misleading” and declined further action.
Criticism & Calls for Transparency
Republican legislators argued that any appearance of impropriety threatens judicial independence and that the JCC’s dismissal left “important questions unsolved,” prompting calls for a transparent review.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on investigative outcomes: the JCC dismissed the case, yet the governor and legislative leaders launched a separate independent investigation, and Hagen’s recusal in May 2025 follows a last case involvement dated October 2024, creating an unexplained timeline overlap.
Why It Matters
The episode underscores the tension between a judge’s personal privacy and the public’s expectation of ethical conduct, highlighting the need for transparent oversight to maintain confidence in Utah’s highest court.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I also understand that public officials are rightly held to a higher standard and must accept a greater degree of public scrutiny and diminished privacy,” — Diana Hagen
- “We will move forward with an independent investigation to ensure the facts are fully examined,” — Governor Spencer Cox (joint statement)
- “faithful to my ex-husband for more than 30 years. I never engaged in extramarital sex with anyone prior to our separation.” — Diana Hagen, testimony to Judicial Conduct Commission
