Utah High Court Hears Arguments In FLDS Leader's Appeal

Yesterday the Utah Supreme Court heard arguments in the case of State v. Jeffs, an appeal by Warren Jeffs, former head of the FLDS Church. Jeffs was convicted of rape as an accomplice (see prior posting) for his role in the arranged marriage of a 14-year-old to her 19-year-old cousin. (Audio of oral arguments.) Today's Dallas Morning News summarizes the arguments. Members of the FLDS Church practice polygamy in arranged marriages. Defense attorney Walter Bugden argued that the state charged Jeffs with a crime that does not fit the facts. He asserted:"This is an unpopular religion, and the state decided to find a way to bring down this unpopular religious figure."