On Sunday, March 1, 2026, KSL reported that the Utah House of Representatives is planning to censure 7th District Judge Don Torgerson for comments he made during a sentencing hearing in May 2025. The resolution, HR8, sponsored by Representative Matt MacPherson, is expected to be introduced and passed before the end of the legislative session.
The resolution condemns Judge Torgerson’s conduct as “prejudicial to the administration of justice” and something that “brings his judicial office into disrepute.” House Speaker Mike Schultz has been a vocal supporter of the censure, calling on Torgerson to resign after his remarks became public.
The case dates back to May 20, 2025, when Torgerson presided over the sentencing hearing for Aidan Hoffman, who was 22 years old at the time. Hoffman pleaded guilty to two felonies related to the possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material. During the sentencing, Torgerson referenced the nearly four months Hoffman had already spent in jail, stating that “112 days is a lot of jail time. It’s a lot of jail time for someone your age who comes from some level of privilege.” He also suggested that Hoffman could help other young men in his situation. Torgerson ultimately placed Hoffman on probation for four years and required him to register as a sex offender.
The Utah State Courts initially defended Torgerson and criticized KSL’s reporting, claiming the news outlet “omitted several relevant and important facts.” However, after details of the sentencing hearing came to light, multiple complaints were filed with the Utah Judicial Conduct Commission, which called the judge’s behavior “troubling” but ultimately dismissed the complaints “with a warning.”
MacPherson stated that lawmakers want to highlight that Torgerson’s comments “were out of touch with Utah values.” He also expressed concern that Torgerson had not taken ownership of his statements or made a public apology.
Legislative censures are extremely rare in Utah. The only recent instance occurred in 2024 when both the House and Senate censured then-State School Board member Natalie Cline.
Torgerson is the presiding judge of the 7th District and serves Grand, Carbon, Emery, and San Juan counties. He also presides over the San Juan County Adult Treatment Court and acts as a statewide water judge. He was appointed by then-Gov. Gary Herbert and is up for retention again in 2028. In his most recent retention election in 2022, Torgerson received a unanimous endorsement from the Utah Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission.
Source: KSL
