Gov. Spencer Cox announced Hagen’s resignation, which comes after weeks of scrutiny tied to claims she had an improper relationship with an attorney who had a case before the court. The allegations were reviewed by the state’s Judicial Conduct Commission, which dismissed them as “speculative, overstated, and misleading,” The Salt Lake Tribune reported.
Still, Republican leaders, including House Speaker Mike Schultz and Senate President J. Stuart Adams, pushed for further investigation, saying questions remained unanswered. The Utah Republican Party also launched a campaign urging voters to remove Hagen in an upcoming retention election.
In her resignation letter, Hagen said the personal toll of the situation ultimately drove her decision. She wrote that public service comes with heightened scrutiny but said her family should not bear the consequences.
“But my family and friends did not choose public life,” Hagen wrote. “They do not deserve to have intensely personal details surrounding the painful dissolution of my thirty-year marriage subjected to public scrutiny,” she said.
Hagen added that she would have preferred to continue serving but could not do so at the expense of her loved ones or the judiciary’s independence. “I would love nothing more than to continue serving the people of Utah as a Supreme Court Justice,” she wrote, “but I cannot do so without sacrificing the privacy and well-being of those I care about.”
Schultz and Adams said in a joint statement that Hagen’s resignation was “in the best interest” of the court and confirmed no further investigations into the specific allegations would be pursued.
At the same time, state leaders, including Cox and Chief Justice Matthew Durrant, said all three branches of government would work together on potential reforms to the Judicial Conduct Commission. They said the goal is to ensure accountability and maintain public confidence.
Durrant, in a separate statement, said he was “saddened” by Hagen’s resignation and praised her contributions to the judiciary. He highlighted her past work prosecuting the kidnapper of Elizabeth Smart and her efforts supporting crime victims and mentoring young attorneys.
The controversy stems in part from a Utah Supreme Court case in which Hagen participated, involving a dispute over legislative authority to repeal voter-approved ballot initiatives. One of the attorneys in that case, David Reymann, was cited in the complaint alleging an inappropriate relationship.
The complaint originated from claims made by Hagen’s ex-husband and was later filed with the Judicial Conduct Commission. After reviewing the matter, the commission’s bipartisan members voted to dismiss it.
However, the issue gained renewed attention after the commission’s report was released through a public records request, prompting calls from Republican leaders for an independent investigation.
Legal and advocacy groups have raised concerns about how the situation unfolded. The Utah State Bar said Hagen’s resignation represents a significant loss to the judiciary and suggested she had been unfairly scrutinized despite the dismissal of the complaint.
A nonpartisan organization focused on judicial independence also criticized the pressure campaign, warning it could have broader implications for the courts.
The judiciary has faced increasing tension with the Legislature in recent months following a series of rulings against Republican-backed policies. Earlier this year, lawmakers approved adding two new seats to the state Supreme Court, a move critics described as an attempt to shift the court’s balance.
Hagen, who was appointed by Cox in 2022 and previously served on the Utah Court of Appeals, now leaves behind a vacancy that the governor will fill. With her departure, there will be a third open seat on the court, further shaping its future direction.
