Decorum order posted for Jeffs extradition hearing
 
By Kevin Jenkins
kevin@thespectrum.com
The Spectrum
 
ST. GEORGE -- A courtroom decorum order has been published for next week's extradition hearing in the case of polygamous church leader Warren Jeffs in West Jordan.

Utah State Courts officials have published 3rd District Judge Terry Christiansen's order online at www.utcourts.gov/media/hpcases/. The order is a result of limited seating in the courtroom and the high profile of the case.

The order indicates that state court Public Information Officer Nancy Volmer will begin distributing about 50 passes to district courtroom 37 at 1 p.m.

Volmer said the passes are for members of the media as well as for members of the general public who may have an interest in the case, distributed on a first-come, first-served basis until the passes are gone.

Volmer said the distribution of the passes will actually begin at the courthouse at 12:30 p.m.

Volmer said Jeffs will be present at the hearing, in which the judge will present him with a copy of the prosecution's information charging him with being a fugitive from justice in Texas.

The charge is based on Texas authorities accusing Jeffs of aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault and bigamy charges.

Jeffs is expected to confer with his attorneys about whether he wants to waive an extradition hearing and be transported to Texas to face the charges there, Volmer said.

If Jeffs does not agree to voluntarily return to Texas, the judge will then schedule what is basically an identity hearing to determine if Jeffs is the same person charged in Texas, Volmer said.

Gov. Gary Herbert signed an extradition warrant last month turning Jeffs over to the custody of Texas law enforcement officials for trial on charges in that state.

Jeffs' attorney, Walter Bugden, has vowed to fight the extradition.
 
TheSpectrum.com
Originally published September 01, 2010
 
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