During the hearing Thursday, bailiffs, at Walther's direction, kept the girl and her attorney, Carmen Dusek, sequestered from the rest of the observers and attorneys in the gallery, on the opposite side of the courtroom from her mother. The pair met in an adjoining jury room after the hearing.

The state in a progress report filed last month said it is now seeking permanent custody of the girl — the only child of 439 removed from the ranch who has been retaken into temporary state custody since a pair of appellate courts ruled the children be returned to their parents.

Jessop has offered several names of FLDS members as potential placements for her daughter. But none of them have been deemed suitable by Child Protective Services, usually because they are followers of the sect's polygamous beliefs, according to state documents.

The latest option for the girl's custody, Naomi Carlisle, is an older church member, said FLDS spokesman Willie Jessop.

"She's a widow and a wonderful person," he said.

The girl has been having trouble adjusting to life outside the group, Jessop said, despite the efforts of her San Antonio foster family.