KSL News Utah learned that the state’s governor, Senate president, and House speaker have started investigating an alleged relationship between Supreme Court Justice Diana Hagen and David Reymann, a lawyer who argued cases before the court.
The state’s redistricting case is one Reymann argued.
However, Justice Hagen recused herself from the case in September and “from hearing other filings in the case.”
Justice Hagen’s decision stemmed from “renewing close friendships with Reymann and Cheylynn Hayman, another attorney who is a shareholder in the firm where Reymann works.”
Chief Justice Matthew Durrant and the Judicial Conduct Commission received the complaint last year with the allegations:
The complaint, which was obtained exclusively by KSL through a public records request, came from a Provo-based attorney who said Hagen’s ex-husband told him the justice had exchanged “inappropriate” text messages with David Reymann, one of the attorneys involved in a case about redistricting, which led to Utah getting a new congressional map.Hagen strongly denies allegations of an inappropriate relationship of any kind. Reymann also called the allegations “false.” He does outside legal work for KSL and as an attorney for the Utah Media Coalition, of which KSL is a member.The Judicial Conduct Commission conducted a preliminary investigation into the complaint and interviewed Hagen’s ex-husband but ultimately decided not to investigate further. Gov. Spencer Cox, Senate President Stuart Adams and House Speaker Mike Schultz told KSL that’s concerning.
Hayman also serves as the chair of the Judicial Conduct Commission. She recused herself from the commission’s investigation.
The decision did not please Gov. Spencer Cox, Senate President Stuart Adams, and House Speaker Mike Schultz.
“An initial review by the Judicial Conduct Commission and the court left important questions unresolved,” the three men stated. “Allegations of this nature, especially involving public officials, must be examined with transparency and accountability to establish the facts and to maintain public confidence.”
In February, the Utah Supreme Court unanimously rejected the state legislature’s appeal of the redistricting and ordered them to use the state-ordered map.
Reymann served as one of the lawyers for the League of Women Voters of Utah, a plaintiff.
Hagen’s ex-husband claimed the text messages between Hagen and Reymann started off as “silly” before becoming “more suggestive.”
The ex-husband did not approve of attorney Michael Worley’s filing of the complaint, but admitted it contained accurate details.
Justice Hagen told the Judicial Conduct Commission, “she was ‘faithful to my ex-husband for more than 30 years. I never engaged in extramarital sex with anyone prior to our separation.'”
“We will move forward with an independent investigation to ensure the facts are fully examined,” the Utah leaders also said. “This process will be conducted objectively and thoroughly, because maintaining trust in our institutions is essential.”
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