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Tonya Papanikolas ReportingThe Utah Supreme Court rules a judge in Hildale, Utah must be removed from the bench. The reason? The man is a polygamist. The court handed down its decision this afternoon.
The court's decision was unanimous. It agreed with the Judicial Conduct Commission, which originally recommended Walter Steed's removal. They say he was violating the state's bigamy law and that civil disobedience for a judge carries consequences.
Steed has three wives and 32 children. He has served for 25 years on the Justice Court in Hildale, a polygamist community in southern Utah. During that time, he ruled on things like drunk driving and domestic violence cases. But two years ago, the group Tapestry Against Polygamy filed a complaint against Steed, prompting a year-long investigation with the Judicial Conduct Commission.
That commission determined the judge was violating Utah's bigamy law, a third-degree felony, and turned the case over to the supreme court. The court today acknowledged that in Steed's mind consensual adult polygamy should be legal, but it ruled that was irrelevant - a judge must comply with the law, whether he thinks it's fair or not.
Steed said through a statement he believes in the justice system and respects the decision, but was disappointed the court didn't address the issue of consensual adult polygamy head-on.
Rodney Parker, Attorney for Walter Steed: "There hasn't been a prosecution since the 1950s under that statute. I think people in those communities have a reasonable expectation, among consenting adults, their conduct is permissible."
Steed said, "I am hopeful that the court will eventually consider the issue of polygamy as an aspect of personal privacy, marital rights and religious freedom." But he said he was proud of bringing the issue before the court.
Steed's attorney said he will be stepping down immediately. And it's important to note, though bigamy is a felony, Steed will not be criminally prosecuted.
