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Mar. 7, 2006 The Utah State Supreme Court has Kicked Polygamous Judge Walter Steed off the bench. The Man has three wives and 32 Children. Technically, he is only legally married to his first wife. The other two wives were sealed to him in a religious ceremony by his Church. The Former Judge sat on the bench for over 25 years in a community where Polygamy is an openly accepted practice. Marriages with Plural Wives was an accepted custom of the original mainline Mormon church, but the faith abandoned the practice in 1890's as a condition for Utah's Statehood. Practicing polygamists, split from the main church into fundamentalist sects and live in Utah, the Southwest, Mexico and Canada. Technically Polygamy has been outlawed but it is rarely enforced. There are so many people practicing it that the law simply do not have the resources to go after Polygamists. Nevertheless, Walter Steed is minus a job. The Judge stated that he'll not be giving up his marriages for the few hundred dollars that he was paid for what was essentially a part-time judicial position. Luckily for Steed and his family, he also works as a truck driver It is not an easy task providing for three wives and 32 Children. The Judge came under fire in 2000 when a group of ex-polygamous wives filed Misconduct charges against him. They have also targets policemen and lawyers who practice polygamy. Technically, Polygamy is a third degree felony but the statute is one of those blue laws that the law enforcers ignore nor will the ex-Judge or his wives be prosecute for bigamy. It was pointed out by the Washington County District Attorney Office where Walter Steed resides, that the Steed and his three wives are all consenting adults. "The statute against Polygamy is never enforced. Why single out this judge for special treatment?" . On the other hand, the Utah Supreme Court ruled that that the Judge is not allowed to civil disobedience because he holds an important office. The Judge is out of a job and states that he is looking at his legal woes as an opportunity to challenge the constitutionality of the ban on polygamy . Walter Steed quotes "I am hopeful that the court will eventually consider the issue of polygamy as an aspect of personal privacy, marital rights and religious freedom," Steed said. "I am proud of my effort to bring the issue before the court and the people of Utah." The Judge has a valid point. Technically, the Government only recognizes one of his marriages. If he opted to simply "shack up" with the other two women without a religious ceremony - would it still be consider two marriages. How can he be considered married to three women in the eyes of the government, when the government only recognizes one. This is an issue that needs to go to the United States Supreme Court. It is a fight that can eventually be won but not in the current conservative Supreme Court. ------------ About the author: Bonijean Isaacs is a freelance writer and Astrologer in West Virginia. Email: inez4liberty@gmail.com Comment on this article here! ------------ All articles are EXCLUSIVE to Useless-Knowledge.com. Please link to this article rather than copying and pasting it onto your site (which would be unauthorized and illegal). |
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