Court: Texas had no right to take polygamists' children

SAN ANGELO, Texas (CNN) -- The state of Texas should not have removed children from a polygamist sect's ranch because it didn't prove that they were in "imminent danger," an appeals court ruled Thursday.
The judges did not order that the children be returned to Yearning for Zion Ranch in Eldorado, but they directed the lower court to vacate its order granting custody of the children to the state.
In its ruling, the Texas 3rd District Court of Appeals decided in favor of 38 women who had challenged the removals and appealed a decision last month by a district judge that the children remain in state custody.
An attorney representing the mothers said the trial court that originally backed the state's seizure of the children has 10 days to vacate its decision. If it doesn't, the appeals court will act, said Julie Balovich of Texas RioGrande Legal Aid.
Although the ruling applies only to 38 mothers and their children represented in this case, "we believe the reasoning in the court of appeals decision would apply to all children," Balovich said.
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http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/05/22/flds.ruling/index.html?section=cnn_l...
http://www.usatoday.com/news/military/2008-05-22-polygamist-ruling_N.htm...
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080522/ap_on_re_us/polygamist_retreat_35
http://gosanangelo.com/news/2008/may/22/live-from-the-courthouse-day-4-o...
http://www.dallasobserver.com/2008-05-22/news/family-planning/
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080522/ap_on_re_us/polygamist_retreat_34