Judge: Explore disenfranchising polygamous sect’s towns

A Utah judge fed up with a polygamous sect wants Utah and Arizona to pursue disenfranchising its towns.

Third District Judge Denise Lindberg asked state lawyers Monday to relay messages to the Attorneys General in both states to look at “systematic action” to end a “revolving door of noncooperation” from law enforcement and elected officials in Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, Ariz.

The two towns are home to the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, a breakway sect led by Warren S. Jeffs. About 6,000 members of the faith live in the community, which took off in the 1930s as a religious haven where polygamy could flourish.

Without a vote of the people, however, there may be little the states can do.

Tim Bodily, an assistant attorney general for Utah, told Lindberg that his office had reviewed disenfranchisement of Hildale but that such action generally requires a public vote.

“For that reason, we haven’t pursued it,” he said.

Outside of court, Bodily said there may be “other options.”

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