Utah's top court boots polygamist judge Steed

The Utah Supreme Court has ousted a polygamist judge from the bench, saying his relationships with three women he considers his "wives" are clearly breaking the law and bringing his judicial office into disrepute.

Hildale Justice Court Judge Walter Steed accepted the court's decision but expressed disappointment in Friday's ruling.

"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, and I am disappointed that the court did not reach those issues in my case," Steed said in a written statement.

Steed has been a part-time justice court judge in the polygamous border town of Hildale, Washington County, since 1980. He has been hearing cases on Saturdays, earning a little more than $300 a month. Steed was not expected to take the bench today — or any other day.

"I've advised him not to hear any more cases," Steed's lawyer, Rod Parker, said Friday.

In a three-page written ruling, the high court unanimously agreed that Steed's personal or religious beliefs cannot transcend the laws that he has sworn to uphold while in office.

"In the case of a sitting judge, it is of little or no consequence that the judge may believe a criminal statute is constitutionally defective. A judge ignores the clearly stated criminal prohibitions of the law at his or her peril," states the ruling written by Associate Chief Justice Michael Wilkins.

Steed came under fire when the group Tapestry Against Polygamy filed a complaint last year with the Judicial Conduct Commission, which investigates claims of judicial misbehavior.

"How can he uphold something he isn't honoring?" asked Rowenna Erickson with the anti-polygamy group. "He was definitely breaking the law. There are practicing polygamists who are attorneys, as well as police officers."

Steed's conduct was, according to the JCC, a "(flouting) of the prohibitions of the bigamy statute" for more than 25 years. The JCC said Steed's admitted behavior and his stated intentions to continue in polygamous marriages were prejudicial to the administration of justice and brought the judicial office into disrepute.

Not only are judges expected to obey the law, but the Supreme Court ruling said they must meet a higher standard of behavior than other people — or risk undermining society.

"Judges in this state are expected to abide by all of the laws applicable to them. Civil disobedience carries consequences for a judge that may not be applicable to other citizens," Wilkins said in the ruling. "When the law is violated or ignored by those charged by society with the fair and impartial enforcement of the law, the stability of society is placed at undue risk."