Removal of judge overdue
 
Opinion
The Spectrum
 
The Utah Supreme Court's recent decision to remove Walter Steed as Hildale's Justice Court judge was long overdue. Steed had served 25 years despite being an admitted polygamist, a clear violation of state law. In America, people are allowed to protest laws they believe are unjust, but they are not allowed to flout them - particularly when they are a judge.

Judges are sworn to uphold the state Constitution. In Utah's case, that means a document that outlaws polygamy. Steed clearly did not follow that particular law.

While Steed should have stepped down, it is nevertheless an embarrassment to the state of Utah that he served so long and was only removed after Tapestry Against Polygamy asked the Judicial Conduct Commission to investigate Steed. It is one thing to debate how aggressively the private practice of polygamy should be prosecuted. It is quite another to put a known polygamist in a position where he is responsible for interpreting and enforcing the laws of the state.

The Utah Supreme Court reviewed Steed's case and decided that he needed to be removed. Steed complained that the court did not consider "the injustices that are caused by the criminalization of my religious beliefs and lifestyle, and I am disappointed that the court did not reach those issues."

Steed misses the point. The case before the court was not whether the practice of polygamy should be a criminal activity. The case before the court was whether Steed was living in violation of current state law.

As an admitted polygamist, he wasn't following the law. The state Supreme Court made the right decision.
 
TheSpectrum.com
Originally published March 6, 2006
 
Back