Utah Supreme Court Justice Diana Hagen don resign her position, effective immediately, after allegations say she get relationship with one lawyer wey handle redistricting case for her court.
The resignation come on Friday, May 8, 2026, and na big shock for many people wey don respect her for 26 years of public service. For her letter to Governor Spencer Cox, Hagen talk say she dey sacrifice her privacy and the well-being of her family to continue serve. She say her family no choose public life and no deserve to get their personal matters dragged for public.
The problem start when her ex-husband accuse her of sending inappropriate text messages to David Reymann, the lawyer wey fight against Republican-friendly congressional maps for the League of Women Voters case. The Utah Judicial Conduct Commission investigate the matter but decide not to pursue further, saying the evidence no strong.
But top Republican leaders, including Governor Cox, House Speaker Mike Schultz, and Senate President Stuart Adams, no gree. They call for independent investigation in April 2026. The pressure too much for Hagen, and she decide to resign.
For her resignation letter, Hagen say she take prompt and transparent steps when she hear the allegations. She voluntarily recuse herself from cases involving Reymann in May 2025. She also deny any inappropriate relationship with the lawyer.
Governor Cox now get the task to appoint new justice for the Utah Supreme Court. The case don raise questions about trust and neutrality for the judiciary, especially with congressional elections coming.
Hagen join the Utah Supreme Court in 2022 after appointment by Governor Cox. Before that, she serve for Utah Court of Appeals. She win awards from FBI and get respect for her work.
The story show how personal life and public duty can mix, and how one allegation, even if no proven, can end a career wey take decades to build.
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