Deseret News | Lawyer is keen on justice for FLDS clients

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Lawyer is keen on justice for FLDS clients

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Marina | 12:29 a.m. June 9, 2008

I have great respect for Rod Parker. I am not LDS nor FLDS - not even Catholic, but I believe the rights of the FLDS were stepped on. Yes, we want to protect children, but you cannot step on an individual's right in doing so. You can cry "but what about the rights of the child?" In stepping over the law, this case was set backwards. If it had been accomplished slowly and with full thought, the case would have not been overturned or sent back to the lower court. By sidestepping the rights, you have failed the children you wanted to protect.

Ryan | 1:23 a.m. June 9, 2008

I respect lawyers like Rod and others who have fought unpopular fights in the name of civil rights. To allow all 463 children to be removed from the ranch under Texas authority would have been the greatest legal tragedy of our time. To "save" 463 children would have failed millions of children in America. It is not right for our government to break its own laws, voted by the people for the people, under any circumstances. What I have witnessed in Texas scares me to death. To think that by little or no evidence my kids can be taken from my personal home. And even with an incredible lack of evidence my kids can be taken from me, which would require me to pay mounds of money to fight and not to mention the time it takes. I appreciate people like Rod ... thank you.

Sleuth | 7:17 a.m. June 9, 2008

The is no more ideal, yet real system for justice than we have under our Constitution. No system adjudicates successful government better on any other principles; particularly where individual rights are not superceded by State's rights.

If Rod parker is real, then suredly he understands and represents that our government must maintain autonomous political institutions, which must not be influenced, motivated or violated by false, dramatice, hysterical, conspiratorial and sensational pressures as we have witnessed in the FLDS raid and seizures. This would be why I respect Rod Parker.

Texas breached their public trust when they seized the children of the FLDS community. The only way this can be proven wrong, meaning that Texas didn't breach our government principles, would be if the State had entered the community with proper evidence and authority based on credible, probable cause allegations and arrested only specific individuals on specific charges and only took into protective custody the specific persons named in a warrant or any persons discovered who were actually being harmed and/or in imminent danger of being harmed.

Aside from Rod parker just doing business, he is also an American Hero protecting our government and individual rights.

Comments continue below

Grandpa Phil | 7:19 a.m. June 9, 2008

Well said Marina. My hat is off to Rod Parker. It is good to know that there are some ethical, sincere and honest lawyers left who will stand up for justice regardless of the price. In him, there is hope for the lawyer profession.

HOW?????? | 7:48 a.m. June 9, 2008

How can any lawyer defend polygamy.....

They are breaking the law no matter how you slice it up.

1 man 2-25 wives... no matter how you add it up, it is still against the law!

DCFS skeptic | 7:51 a.m. June 9, 2008

I have always wondered how an attorney can rest knowing they were representing evil people, sometimes even murderers and helping them get away with it. HOWEVER, I do believe everyone has a side of the story to tell and they need representation. I only wish truth were the mainstay rather than doing whatever it takes to get someone off, even if it is clear they are guilty.

The Constitution must be protected and for that effort I applaud Rod Parker. Hopefully he would defend anyone in need of such assistance through the legal boondoggle and bureaucratic red tape that often causes even the innocent to suffer without fairness unless the court gets involved at great expense.

If he really wants to set about for justice, he could spend some time looking at the abuse that goes on in our own DCFS organization. People are wrongly accused all the time and they must prove their innocence (assuming they have the language, skills, understanding of their rights, and money for a lawyer to begin with). There are no watchdogs for this organization except their own, and they bend over backwards to protect their workers' decisions no matter how wrong they are.

betty | 7:55 a.m. June 9, 2008

i agree that everyone is entitled to a lawyer, we gave some to saddam hussien. but i think mr. parker has gone beyond being a lawyer to being the head spokesman for a cult. he is just a public relations firm, and a publicity hound, trying to whitewash a lifestyle that creates slaves and baby making machines out of women.

VegasBaby | 8:32 a.m. June 9, 2008

It's all about the money. He's a typical lawyer with wealthy clients, making a bundle representing them and he'll probably write a book to cash in even more.

zxcvbnm | 8:43 a.m. June 9, 2008

Even that "good lawyer" was one of many good lawyers that represented FLDS.
Parker served as a spokesman for the group while dozens of his collegues filed brief after brief on behalf of the mothers.
Just think of the average mother battling CPS, unable to hire or beg good legal help.

BoPeep | 8:51 a.m. June 9, 2008

I agree with Mr. Parker's colleague - he is acting in the highest tradition of the American bar.

I just hope he gets a chance to continue that tradition in suing the State of Texas, and all those involved in the travesty, on behalf of those harmed by its actions.

Bot | 8:51 a.m. June 9, 2008

Where was the ACLU when the Constitutional rights of the FLDS were being abused by the CPS and the judge. Do they only go to bat for liberal causes which help destroy Western Civilization?

Think!!!!! | 9:05 a.m. June 9, 2008

I really appreciate Ryan's comment on this blog.
Rod Parker is an American Hero for defending a people who most of the world would rather hang. He helped show that the allegations were false. Even the underage marraiges were so small (they found ONE after their big cry of SO MANY!!) I'm grateful Rod Parker gave of himself like that. Maybe other lawyers could take his great example. How many other children have been taken from homes that were in reality good parents, but because it was just one family, CPS got away with it. It's time for CPS reform to be demanded by every honest American.

Anonymous | 9:11 a.m. June 9, 2008

I would like to see polygamy prosecuted rather than pandered.

Laws protect our society. If we pick and choose which laws we will uphold and which we will ignore we are setting ourselves up for chaos and destruction.

Old Geezer in Vegas | 9:21 a.m. June 9, 2008

Thank God for people like Rod Parker!!
I am neither FLDS nor LDS, but most of my posts have been pro FLDS because I truly think that the constitutional rights of these people have been trampled on by the state of Texas. My grandfather, a history teacher, ingrained the idea in me that we should never give up even one of our constitutional rights. He taught me that we should not only protect our own rights but also those of people we may not agree with because if one of us looses basic rights, we all do!! Mr. Parker seems to believe in the same ideals!

Old Bill | 9:24 a.m. June 9, 2008

I can't believe all the hate from you folks. Don't you realize even these people have civil rights. Or is that reserved for only a few ? Why is it so easy for all these good Mormons to jump on the bandwagon and condem these people without due process when so much of this has happened to them in the past? I'm just glad there are still people that have the balls to stand up for the under dog.

Franz | 9:25 a.m. June 9, 2008

Whoa! Just wait on cotton-pickin' moment. How?????? and betty: The case was about the right of Texas DCFS to remove 463 children with little evidence. It was not about polygamy; it was about basic civil rights for them (FLDS), for me, and for you. It would be like somebody calling to report animal abuse in your neighborhood. The government comes in, finds evidence that someone doesn't walk their dog, someone has a gerbal in a cage that is too small, and someone is keeping too many cats. So, they remove every animal in your neighborhood until they can figure it out.

Just wondering.... | 9:30 a.m. June 9, 2008

if Mr. Parker was an active LDS member, would his membership in the church be scrutinized by his local church leaders?

Anonymous | 9:30 a.m. June 9, 2008

This WHOLE story is utterly disgusting!

Red | 9:42 a.m. June 9, 2008

HOW?????? 7:48 "How can any lawyer defend polygamy....."

IMO this isn't the question here. No one has been charged with polygamy (yet!). No lawyer is defending a client against a non-existent charge.

HOW?: "They are breaking the law no matter how you slice it up. 1 man 2-25 wives... no matter how you add it up, it is still against the law!"

Texas law forbids certain descriptions of behavior -- not the behavior itself.

Polygamy isn't mentioned in Texas code -- check for yourself.

How many men, and how many women, make up a conjugal group in Texas isn't addressed by Texas law. The Lone Star State has only criminalized calling certain groups "marriages."

As long as a one-man, many-women conjugal group doesn't use words like "husband," "wife," and "marriage," Texas law doesn't outlaw that group.

Polygamy, if the right words are used to describe it, is perfectly legal in Texas.

Child Rapists | 9:58 a.m. June 9, 2008

Even child rapists are due a legal defense. Its good to see lawyers step up to the plate, even if they disagree with a life style. Plus, he might get some nice $$ out of a book deal, later.

A word to Rod | 10:13 a.m. June 9, 2008

I wonder if Rod advocates law to the FLDS people. He likes to spin their behavior in such a way as to advocate for them. But a good attorney will also advocate law to his client and, if effective, will cause change in behavior. We should measure Rod's greatness both ways. Is he the reason the FLDS have agreed to end child marriages, or did they decide this by some other way? Or, does Rod tell them that they should say that they are ending the child marriage as a way to lessen the scrutiny as well as the affects of law upon them? Time will tell if it's a lawyer's trick, or true change in wrong behavior. Rod does a lot of good and for that I applaud him. For all the good that he should do and does not, a big rasberry is too good!!!

realitycheck | 10:16 a.m. June 9, 2008

yup - everyone needs a lawyer, especially those that rob children of their future.

David S. | 10:33 a.m. June 9, 2008

Rod Parker is a great lawyer and he has my highest respect. Thank you Rod, keep up the good work.

Janet | 10:39 a.m. June 9, 2008

I am FLDS and I want to thank Rod Parker for his efforts in our behalf. I know you will be greatly blessed, Heaven bless you and your family. Don't worry about what all these crude people have to say, you're doing a great job.

COSMO | 10:42 a.m. June 9, 2008

What part of right to "Legal Representation",is so hard for many posters to understand.
I cannot abide certain groups or individuals,however
that does not mean that I can supercede their legal
right of counsel.

Lottie | 10:43 a.m. June 9, 2008

Three cheers for Rod Parker, you're awesome!

Hurl | 10:53 a.m. June 9, 2008

Kudos to Rod Parker for standing up for a group whose rights were trashed by Texas officials and whose peculiarities make it an unpopular underdog.

Tara | 11:07 a.m. June 9, 2008

What happened to "Innocent until PROVEN guilty"????

Rod Parker, Thank you for your efforts in defending our unpopular cause. And standing up for the legal right of Freedom of Religion.

Heaven bless you in your great job!

Gladys | 11:21 a.m. June 9, 2008

I agree with: Marina, Ryan, Sleuth, Grandpa Phil, zxcvbnm, BoPeep, Bot, Think!!!!!, Old Geezer in Vegas, Old Bill, Franz, Red, David S., Janet, COSMO, Lottie, and Hurl.

ROD PARKER IS AN AMERICAN HERO!

emerald rain | 11:39 a.m. June 9, 2008

I don't have the words or all the legal terms to express myself except tp simply say thank you, Mr. Parker. You will go down in history for the good you have done, look at how many lives you have touched. Keep up teh good work!

Emma | 11:39 a.m. June 9, 2008

Odd Betty that you find the role of mother, including pregnancy to be so vulgar. I live in a part of the country that finds me a "baby making machine." I have three children. My husband has a doctorate and I a Master's degree. We are considered freaks.

I am grateful that Rod Parker serves the Constitution over the majority that hate because others are different. Without people like him, Blacks would still be drinking from different water fountains and using different bathrooms. Is that what you really desire?

gheK | 11:54 a.m. June 9, 2008

Now if we can just Warren Jeffs released. FLDS is the true church, and he is the true prophet, who was framed by the media.

kg | 11:54 a.m. June 9, 2008

Mr. Parker, All I have to say is "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" In this country we have certain rights and those rights were blatantly violated in this case. Someone needed to step forward and you did.

Steve | 11:58 a.m. June 9, 2008

I would like to thank Mr. Parker for defending the rights of a minority. The Constitution and our rights are not self-defending. It requires people of courage to do so and it appears that Mr. Parker is just such a man. Thanks so much to you sir.

Steve

Sue | 12:15 p.m. June 9, 2008

Thank you, Rod Parker, for protecting the constitutional rights of Americans. In an age where the Bush administration has does everything in its power to frighten Americans into relinquishing their constitutional rights, it's nice to see someone who will stand up for Americans, no matter their race or religion.

Raymond Takashi Swenson | 12:18 p.m. June 9, 2008

As a fellow attorney, I want to congratulate Mr. Parker on his willingness to represent people who, no matter what their sins and transgressions, do not deserve to have their freedom taken from them by state agencies and courts that clearly placed religious prejudice and fear of those who are different above the explicit requirements of the law.

If the precedent set in the original trial court ruling had been upheld, it would have been cited by California child welfare authorities and courts as they started to take children out of the homes of parents who teach them that homosexual marriage is a violation of God's laws. After all, militant atheist Richard Dawkins has called teaching children to believe in God a form of child abuse. If teaching a child anything you don't like can be called "child abuse", then parental rights will be extinct and all children will be wards of the state, as in communist Cuba.

colorbluehere | 12:26 p.m. June 9, 2008

A thousand thanks to ROD PARKER and others like him.this will go down as one of the wonders of this age in which we live. only those who can not think clearly, can see the use of prosecution to bring a people into captivity and servitude

Gray Wolf | 12:31 p.m. June 9, 2008

Being an attorney is like being a grizzly with a bunch of wolves waiting to tear you apart.

Thanks Rod Parker for standing up for a group of people who needed your counsel.

My life experience of over 68 years still leaves me with no doubt that polygamy is wrong. No matter how it is defined it is wrong.

It is wrong!
It is wrong!
It is wrong!

Rod Parker is a hero | 12:35 p.m. June 9, 2008

I am continually amazed with this man. I am not FLDS. I am not a lawyer, either. But I am a student who is considering going on to law school. And Rod Parker gives me inspiration as I seriously weigh that option. What an honorable, noble man. I know he must sleep well at night, knowing he fights to good fight honorably and with nothing but good intentions of defending those who need defending. Bravo, Rod Parker, Bravo!

sailor | 12:43 p.m. June 9, 2008

realitycheck
The job of all parents is to limit you children's future. Do you want Muslim to teach your children, or someone to tell them how good pot is? All parents try to have their children to believe as they do. Don't you!

Sucking up | 12:49 p.m. June 9, 2008

Hey odd-lies? what's with this funny polygamist blog? Good grief!... what's with all the praise to the "ATTORNEY GOD" stuff? Has everyone lost connection and contact to the real world or what?

REAL | 12:51 p.m. June 9, 2008

Isn't it rather interesting how most posters that think this guy walks on water, also beleive that Warren Jeffs is perfect and not a convicted, child rapist, felon. Soon, they will declare Willy and Merrill, great american heros,..............how sick!!!!!!!

DS | 12:54 p.m. June 9, 2008

Polygamy is wrong. But even worse is any government's ability to paint a segment of our population with a broad brush and to use the law to persecute for belief, rather than to prosecute for crimes. But for the U.S. Constitution and the defense of principles that attorneys like Mr. Parker are often called to defend - on behalf of "unpopular" groups, there is nothing to prevent Government from assigning to any of us a lable that may be unpopular at any given time (such as "Jew" "White" "Black" "Poor" "Rich" "Muslim" or "Mormon")and prosecuting on that basis alone.
We should be grateful that the Constitution afford protection to the "unpopular" and to attorneys who are able to distinguish between "legal" and "popular."

Too "HOW?????? | 7:48 a.m." | 12:55 p.m. June 9, 2008

He is NOT defending polygamy! No one on the Ranch has even been charged with Polygamy and that WASN'T the pretense for taking the kids, so how is his defending their civil rights defending polygamy?

He IS defending their civil rights (and every American should support that). Even those charged with Murder have civil rights (the right to an attorney, the right to not incriminte themselvs, the right to be considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, the right to a trial by their peers, right to private property and the right to not submit to illegal search and seasure, a right to have their grievences be heard by their government.

Don't be blinded by your hate for Polygamy. At this point it has almost NOTHING to do with this case. Somewhere down the road someone at the ranch MAY be charged with Polygamy, then (after someone has been charged) you can start your ranting about Polygamy and you will be on-topic.

Many people want to make this into a vendetta about polygamy or settle some old religious scores, but that just isn't what it is about at this point.

Juan Figuroa | 12:59 p.m. June 9, 2008

Good man. Good job. Well done, Parker.

Wild Bill | 1:00 p.m. June 9, 2008

Mr. Parker, 100% behind your efforts. I am surprized
the supporters of the CPS have not took the time to
understand the Law and how we in the United States
have certain rights. The FLDS people have evry right
to believe and teach what ever they wish to. There
children are well behaved and peaceful. The recent
statement that they would not saction forced or underage marriage is a wise move. The People of the lone star state are very vindictive and will stop
at nothing to prove a point. In this case they will
attept to dig until they find some dirt. All people
have dirt. I hope Mr. Parker stays the course and
files a class action lawsuit to insure that the State
of Texas uses extreme caution in moving against them again.

This case is proof that we all need to be ever vigilate in protecting our rights. All of us should be active and vocal to the Police and Courts.

I am proud that Mr. Parker has found a great clinet who really needs his expertise. I also hope he
is paid as he should be.

Keep up the good work.

Friend to Parker.

Jonathan Wurst | 1:10 p.m. June 9, 2008

Thanks you, Rod, for championing group and individual rights! For piercing the Anti-FLDS's lies, and showing things as they really are. For doing a great job of lawyering and counseling.

Three cheers!

Now, I only hope that you can pursue, and get the FLDS to pursue, crimes against Texas CPS and Law Enforcement, as well as the Governor, for Genocide, which this Raid and incarceration surely was. Also, going after Judge Barbara Walthers on a "Quo Vadis" (I think I'm remembering the term correctly) basis for abusing her authority as a public official and having her removed from office. In addition, suing anyone involved decisionwise and seeking damages for all of the families involved in this charade, including travelling and motel costs, etc. for the parents to go visit their children. Also to include suing them for false imprisonment of each child. Everything that is legally available in Texas to do. Make sure that this NEVER happens again.

Oh, and if possible, push for a complete reform of the CPS system and rules to taking children, drugging them, and removing the many financial incentives to the state to take and keep children and adopt them out.

Thanks!

J-man | 1:10 p.m. June 9, 2008

The burning question is how much has the FLDS paid Rod Parker over the years????

Lets get real on here | 1:18 p.m. June 9, 2008

I agree with HOW??????, and all others who post who are GOOD LDS, and who DO NOT support FLDS. FLDS are law breakers. And, their Warren Jeff Prophet is a #1 phony & fraud!

Rod Parker Rocks!! | 1:19 p.m. June 9, 2008

Rod Parker is awesome. Seriously, he is an American hero that is one of the few willing to step up and defend a group of people who break the law (polygamy is still against the law) and who find no issues with marrying underage girls (another break of the law - it's illegal to marry under the age of 16 in Texas).

So what if a 55 yr-old wants to marry a 14 year old - that's his right and thankfully Rod Parker is willing to defend child molesters such as these. Who is society to tell them that they cannot? Without Rod Parker, some of these children probably could have wound up in good homes with only one father and mother, but who needs that.

Truly, Rod Parker is a hero who is willing to stand up and defend a cult and their choice to marry and molest children.

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