Northern Arizona jury to hear polygamous towns case, judge rules

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Phoenix • A lawsuit that alleges systematic civil rights violations by polygamous towns on the Arizona-Utah line will be tried in Phoenix, but will be decided by jurors from northern Arizona.

U.S. District Judge H. Russel Holland issued an order Wednesday saying the jury pool will be drawn from northern Arizona counties.

He had previously decided the U.S. Justice Department's case against Colorado City, Arizona, and Hildale, Utah, would be tried in Phoenix.

The Jan. 19 trial will examine allegations that the towns denied housing, water services and police protection to people who aren't part of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, a sect that broke away from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when it disavowed polygamy.

The towns deny the allegations.