Utah Judge Removed By State Supreme Court For Polygamy

Yesterday, the Utah Supreme Court in the case of In re Inquiry of a Judge, The Honorable Walter K. Steed, (Feb. 24, 2006), upheld the recommendation of the state's Judicial Conduct Commission that Judge Walter Steed be removed from office because of his illegal practice of polygamy. The Associated Press reports that Steed has served for 25 years on the Justice Court in the polygamist community of Hildale in southern Utah. He has 3 wives and 32 children. Steed legally married his first wife in 1965. The second and third wives were married through religious ceremonies in the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints's in 1975 and 1985. The three women are sisters. Reacting to the Supreme Court's decision, Steed said: "I had hoped that the court would see my case as an opportunity to correct the injustices that are caused by the criminalization of my religious beliefs and lifestyle. I am disappointed the court did not reach those issues in my case."