Judge Diana Hagen nominated for Utah Supreme Court
Mar 30, 2022, 11:46 AM | Updated: Dec 30, 2022, 11:20 am
FILE: Prosecutor Diana Hagen speaks to the media after Brian David Mitchell jury found Mitchell guilty of kidnapping Elizabeth Smart is 2002. Photo credit: Laura Seitz, Deseret News
SALT LAKE CITY — Gov. Spencer Cox has nominated Utah Court of Appeals Judge Diana Hagen for the Utah Supreme Court, and the nomination is now up for approval by the Utah Senate.
About Judge Diana Hagen
Judge Hagen has worked on the Utah Court of Appeals since 2017. Hagen received her law degree from the University of Utah in 1998. She has been a law clerk as well as a law firm associate and federal prosecutor. Hagen currently sits on the Utah Court of Appeals.
She has served as president of Women Lawyers of Utah, the Salt Lake County Bar Association, and the Utah Chapter of the Federal Bar Association.
As a federal prosecutor, she worked with hundreds of criminal appeals and held roles in multiple high-profile trials. These include the murder of Millard County Sheriff’s Deputy Josie Greathouse Fox and the Elizabeth Smart kidnapping.
“Judge Hagen’s distinguished career as an appellate court judge and federal prosecutor, as well as her leadership and service in numerous professional and community groups, have well prepared her for this moment,” Gov. Cox said.
If confirmed, Hagen will replace Justice Deno Himonas. Himonas has served on the Utah Supreme Court since 2015.
Next steps for Utah Supreme Court confirmation
“I am so excited by the prospect of being able to work with the chief and the other justices on the Supreme Court,” Hagen said.
“And, if I am confirmed, I promise to live up to the high standards that they have set and to do my very best to serve the people of Utah to the best of my ability.”
Hagen’s confirmation is now in the hands of the Utah Senate. Hagen’s next step is to meet with the Senate Judiciary Committee. Then, another Senate meeting will take place to determine if full approval is granted.
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