From Deseret News archives:
FLDS couple notches another court victory
Joseph and Lori Jessop appeared before a judge in San Antonio to ask for "full possessory rights" to their three children. They've been fighting to separate themselves from the massive Texas Child Protective Services case involving hundreds of children from the Fundamentalist LDS Church.
Attorneys with the Texas Attorney General's Office asked Monday that the case be heard in San Angelo, where Judge Barbara Walther originally ordered all children removed from the YFZ Ranch and placed into state custody. San Antonio judge Martha Tanner declined to give up jurisdiction, said Teresa Kelly, a spokeswoman for the Jessops' attorney.
Lawyers from the attorney general's office then notified the judge that they intended to file an appeal with the 4th Court of Appeals. Tanner agreed to put the case on hold and issued a temporary restraining order to keep CPS investigators away from the children pending the appeal.
"There was a lot of procedural back and forths," Kelly said of the hearing.
The San Antonio judge had harsh words for the state attorneys, according to a report in the San Antonio Express-News.
After one of the couple's children were sent to a foster facility in San Antonio, the Jessops went to a judge there and won a temporary restraining order May 13, preventing CPS from separating their infant son from his mother when he turned 1 year old. CPS had allowed mothers of children younger than 1 to remain with them in the facilities.
The court also granted the parents temporary custody of their three children until Monday's review hearing. Days later, the Texas Supreme Court ruled that CPS had improperly placed the approximately 450 FLDS children in state custody and ordered them all returned to their families.
The children were returned, but Walther imposed conditions on their release including allowing CPS access to their homes for unannounced visits to conduct medical, psychological or psychiatric examinations. The Jessops have argued there has been no evidence of abuse in their family and have sought to be removed from the CPS case and the conditions placed on the other families.
Texas investigators raided the ranch in April on a telephone tip about abuse. That phone call appears to have been a hoax, but CPS officials said they found evidence of sexual abuse there.
E-mail: bwest@desnews.com
Recent comments
Grandpa: You are suuming a lot. I was hoping you were part of this...
Whatever | June 16, 2008 at 12:29 p.m.
Another appeals court judge has handed Walther and CPS slap. Now...
zxcvbnm | June 13, 2008 at 2:07 a.m.
To "whatever" - "Everyone who supports underage marriage is sick."...
edomi41 | June 12, 2008 at 4:37 p.m.
- Sen. Dems at odds over health bill 1:17 p.m.
- Arrest in suspected child abuse 1:13 p.m.
- Mammogram guidelines spark debate 12:57 p.m.
- Man dies after SUV backs over him 12:39 p.m.
- At 6-5, hard time arguing firing Weis 12:24 p.m.
- $27M transfer for state Route 193 12:20 p.m.
- 'Christmas With King Family' DVD 12:16 p.m.
- Youn men help fill food-pantry needs 12:15 p.m.
- Who is Oprah's heir apparent? 11:39 a.m.
- Florida No. 1, TCU 4 in AP Top 25 11:34 a.m.
- Glenn Beck to enter politics?
- BYU records with win
- Jazz outlast Pistons in overtime
- Police link alcohol to murder
- Cougars turn focus to dreaded rivals
- Utah Utes whip SDSU
- Former BYU professor remembered
- Cougars put the fun back in football
- Kirilenko heating up for the Jazz
- Y. coach Hill up for Portland State job
- Buttars wants to limit gay rights laws
199 - Palin plans tour stop in Utah
174 - Glenn Beck to enter politics?
170 - Palin's book shows she's unqualified
123 - BYU records with win
119 - Officer cleared in Cardall Taser case
103 - BYU cuts Women's Research Inst.
100 - Jazz finally win in San Antonio
98 - Utes knock off rival Aggies
93 - Huntsman pleased with Obama
87
A little after midnight Wednesday morning, about 21 hours ago as I write...
There's a lot of reason to leave your plastic home as you shop:
He is NOT a good example. He broke the Sabbath for a simple game and money....
Yes - the Catholic Church can take any stand they want for the Catholic...
Let it be heard and RISE AND SHOUT, the UTES are out. We claim ownership of...
IN 50 years of membership I have yet to hear a person of whatever position in...
It is non-sense to say one has to have religion to do good or to be good....
Please don't spend any taxpayer money on this.
be a Dietmer because he can never win big games. He will never be a Steve...
I find it interesting that so many who are so vocal about a perceived threat...
Fireboylen, you make want to drug test you with that comment, are you out of...
Oh really. "How many places other than DN..." is a stupid thing to say....

