April 27, 2011
The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decided to keep a polygamous sect’s property trust under government control Wednesday, siding, for now, with a state court judge in a heated judicial standoff.
The appellate judges blocked a federal court order that would have temporarily returned control to the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints for the first time since the state of Utah took over the trust six years ago.
Court-appointed administrator Bruce Wisan will continue to run the trust but is barred from making any major changes.
U.S. District Judge Dee Benson ruled in February that the state takeover was illegal and this month signed the order temporarily returning it to the FLDS.
Then 3rd District Judge Denise Lindberg, who oversaw the administration of the trust following the state takeover, issued her own order blocking that move. She directed Wisan to disobey Benson’s order to turn over all records.
