SALT LAKE CITY — A federal judge has ruled that references to polygamy, underage marriages and imprisoned FLDS leader Warren Jeffs’ sermons can be allowed into the Justice Department’s upcoming trial against Hildale and Colorado City.
In an order issued on Monday, U.S. District Court Judge Russel Holland allowed evidence into the trial — so long as it’s relevant.
From the order:
More than a dozen similar orders were entered for related subjects including polygamy and the writings of Warren Jeffs, who is serving a life sentence in a Texas prison for child sex assault related to underage marriages.
The U.S. Department of Justice is suing Hildale and Colorado City, accusing them of discriminating against those who are not members of the Fundamentalist LDS Church. The feds have also accused town government officials of acting as de facto agents for Jeffs.
Judge Holland wrote that Jeffs’ dictations that show his interactions with Hildale or Colorado City officials is not prejudicial, and will be allowed into the trial, which begins in Phoenix in January.
