PHOENIX — A federal judge has ordered the town governments in the polygamous border towns of Hildale, Utah; and Colorado City, Ariz., to not discriminate against anyone for at least 10 years.
In a ruling handed down on Thursday night and obtained by FOX 13, U.S. District Court Judge James Teilborg ordered the towns “shall not discriminate because of religion against any person in the terms, conditions, or privileges of the provision of services or facilities in connection with the sale or rental of a dwelling.”
Read the judge’s order here:
While a 10-year shelf-life for the order seems unusual, it appears that may be how long the judge has jurisdiction over the case.
The judge also ordered the towns to pay more than $200,000 in attorney’s fees to the state of Arizona.
The judgment was entered in a lawsuit filed by Ron and Jinjer Cooke, who won a multi-million dollar lawsuit against Hildale and Colorado City, alleging they were denied utilities and other government services because they were not members of the Fundamentalist LDS Church.
The Cooke’s alleged the FLDS Church, led by Warren Jeffs, influenced government affairs. Most recently, the attorneys general for Utah and Arizona asked a judge to dismantle the police force in Hildale and Colorado City, claiming it was more loyal to Jeffs than the people it was supposed to serve and protect.
Jeffs is serving a life, plus 20-year prison sentence for child sex assault related to underage marriages.
