On Wednesday, Texas child welfare workers and a pair of law enforcement officers attempted to return to the YFZ Ranch to search for more children believed to be there. They were denied access without a warrant and FLDS leaders accused them of plotting a second raid. Texas CPS officials did not say if they planned to return to the property.

"There is justice in America," said another FLDS woman outside the courthouse Thursday.

She was standing with William Crouse, a parenting instructor from the House of Yahweh, which is another polygamous sect in Texas that has come under scrutiny by state officials. Criminal charges have been filed against members of that group alleging it is a "sex cult."

"People are finally starting to see through it," Crouse said. "They're attacking these people for what they believe in. It's nothing but malarkey."

CPS investigation

The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services issued a statement on Thursday defending the raid.

"When we see evidence that children have been sexually abused and remain at risk of further abuse, we will act," it said.

The agency reiterated it found "a pervasive pattern of sexual abuse" at the ranch that puts every child there at risk and referred to a "pattern of organized deception" from FLDS members during their investigations. The statement also spoke of the "Bishop's Record" it seized that refers to nine girls who were 16- and 17-years-old and living at the ranch who were listed as wives in the document.

"While our only duty is to the children, we respect that the court's responsibility and view is much broader. We will work with the Office of the Attorney General to determine the state's next steps in this case," the statement said.

The raid was sparked by a phone call from someone claiming to be a 16-year-old girl who was pregnant and in an abusive marriage to a 49-year-old man. Texas authorities are investigating whether the call was a hoax.

The appeals court's ruling will not affect an ongoing criminal probe into activities at the ranch involving the FLDS Church or its members.

"I expect those investigations to go on independently," Parker said.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry is reviewing the court order.

"We are being briefed by DFPS, who is determining the next step," governor's spokeswoman Krista Piferrer said, making it clear the governor was not named in the legal action.

Thursday's ruling calls into question an agency's action that has already cost the state millions of dollars. Texas lawmakers met this week in a finance committee to hear the grim news about the fiscal impact of the raid that is now under a higher court's scrutiny and some public criticism.