Utah Supreme Court justice facing affair allegations resigns

Utah Supreme Court Justice Diana Hagen resigned her seat on Friday amid allegations that she had an affair with an attorney involved in a contentious state court case.

"Today, Gov. Cox received a letter of resignation from Utah Supreme Court Justice Diana Hagen. The resignation is effective immediately," read a statement from Gov. Spencer Cox, R-Utah. "The governor appreciates Justice Hagen's years of service to the state of Utah."

Hagen's resignation followed Cox and state legislative leaders announcing an investigation into allegations of the affair. The state's Judicial Conduct Commission previously described as "speculative, overstated, and misleading," according to the Salt Lake Tribune.

The case at issue was a 2024 matter in which Hagen struck down the state legislature's amendment to the state Constitution that would have let lawmakers repeal ballot initiatives. The attorney representing the plaintiffs in the case was the man with whom she allegedly maintained an inappropriate relationship.

Hagen's resignation opens the door for Cox to appoint a replacement, and potentially shift the ideological makeup of the court, which forced a change to the state's congressional districts to allow a Demcoratic-leaning seat.

Ben Whedon is the Chief Political Correspondent at Just the News. Follow him on X.