Firm for polygamous sect seeks to withdraw from lawsuit

Associated Press/December 18, 2004

Salt Lake City -- A law firm that has long represented a polygamous sect on the Arizona-Utah border is seeking to withdraw as its counsel in two lawsuits.

Lawyers for the Salt Lake City-based firm Snow, Christensen and Martineau said in court documents that they disagree with the way the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints wants to handle the cases.

The two cases involve the church and its reclusive president, Warren Jeffs, and Sam Barlow, a former marshal in Colorado City, Arizona.

Also named is a charitable entity that owns most of the land in the polygamous twin cities of Colorado City and neighboring Hildale, Utah.

One case alleges that Jeffs and other male leaders banish young men from their homes so they can marry more young brides.

In the second suit, Jeffs' nephew accuses him and two uncles of sexually abusing him as a child.