PHOENIX — A federal judge has ruled that a lawsuit filed by the Justice Department against the polygamous towns of Hildale and Colorado City will remain in Arizona.
The judge issued a ruling on Monday, denying a request by attorneys for the town governments to move the pending trial to Utah because it was more convenient for attorneys and witnesses. In making his ruling, U.S. District Judge Russel Holland noted that he was filing it from his office in Anchorage, Alaska.
The U.S. Justice Department has filed a civil lawsuit against Hildale and Colorado City, accusing government officials of acting as de facto agents for imprisoned polygamist leader Warren Jeffs and the FLDS Church. It accuses the towns of denying services to ex-members of the Fundamentalist LDS Church.
