Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Developments In Two FLDS Legal Proceedings

Today's Deseret News reports on legal developments in two separate proceedings involving the FLDS Church. Texas Child Protective Services has moved to nonsuit four more children in its custody proceedings that originally involved 439 children taken from the group's YFZ Ranch in Eldorado, Texas. With this move, only 239 of the children who were returned to parents remain under court supervision with requirement that their families remain in Texas. (See prior related posting.)

Separately, in a Utah court, the attorney for a group of ex-FLDS church members says his clients do not object to FLDS leader Willie Jessop serving on an advisory board for the court-controlled UEP Trust that holds property of the FLDS Church. In court filings, attorney Greg Hoole suggests that authority over the property be transitioned from a court-appointed fiduciary to a new board of trustees. In the meantime, he suggests posting minutes of advisory board meetings online and appears to support the fiduciary clearing property transfers through the court with an opportunity for FLDS members to comment on them. (See prior related posting.)