Court orders return of sect children to parents

The Virginian ^ | 5/29/2008 | Moneyrunner

[moneyrunner]

Well, that was fast.

I would have thought that the law would wend its leisurely way for at least weeks if not months; that the children might see their parents again for their college graduations or weddings. But like a bolt of lighting the Texas Supremes ruled that the children from the Yearning For Zion Ranch have to be returned to their parents … now.

SAN ANTONIO - In a crushing blow to the state's massive seizure of children from a polygamist sect's ranch, the Texas Supreme Court ruled Thursday that child welfare officials overstepped their authority and the children should go back to their parents. The high court affirmed a decision by an appellate court last week, saying Child Protective Services failed to show an immediate danger to the more than 400 children swept up from the Yearning For Zion Ranch nearly two months ago. "On the record before us, removal of the children was not warranted," the justices said in their ruling issued in Austin.

The speed with which this case was decided may be an indication of how weak the case brought by the CPS was. It will be interesting to see if someone is made to pay for this fiasco or whether there will be the usual bureaucratic CYA and the CPS workers circle the wagons.

In a related development, the Texas Rangers may have found the person who perpetrated this outrage with a hoax phone call. The perp, who is under investigation for other hoax calls appears to be Rozita Swinton, 33, of Colorado Springs. She has made other phone calls pretending to be a teen aged girl being abused either by her father and her pastor.

[Saundra Duffy]

“This case has illustrated that fact quite nicely I think. I know there are members of this forum that I’ll never look at the same way again.”

I was shocked by the attitude of some so-called FReepers who apparently thought the protections contained in the Constitution did not apply to the FLDS.

[RachelFaith]

NOW !!

No appeal, Now!!

Amen !!

If only they would rule on the Trans Corridor the same way,...

[Knitebane]

Thanks.