SAN ANTONIO (AP) - In a crushing blow to the state's massive seizure of children from a polygamist sect's ranch, the Texas Supreme Court ruled Thursday that child welfare officials overstepped their authority and the children should go back to their parents.
The high court affirmed a decision by an appellate court last week, saying
Child Protective Services failed to show an immediate danger to the more than
400 children swept up from the Yearning For Zion Ranch nearly two months ago.
"On the record before us, removal of the children was not warranted," the
justices said in their ruling issued in Austin.
The high court let stand the appellate court's order that Texas District Judge
Barbara Walther return the children from foster care to their parents. It's not
clear how soon that may happen, but the appellate court ordered her to do it
within a reasonable time period.
(AP) Sect elder Willie Jessop, left, of the Fundamentalist
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints,...
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The ruling shatters one of the largest child-custody cases in U.S. history.
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