Judge wants briefs filed in Colorado City dispute
 
Arizona News Briefs
The Arizona Republic
 
KINGMAN - A Mohave County Superior Court judge ordered Thursday that briefs be filed to supplement testimony in an eviction dispute in the polygamous enclave of Colorado City.

Judge James Chavez ruled Thursday that the leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Warren Jeffs, wouldn't have to testify in the case.

The FLDS controls most of the property in Colorado City and neighboring Hildale, Utah, through a trust. The trust is seeking to have Ross Chatwin evicted from his home.

Chatwin held a news conference denouncing the dictates of the church in January from the home he has been asked to vacate. The church-controlled trust owns the home, but Chatwin said he was brought up with the belief that he would be a lifelong tenant of church property.

His lawyer had been seeking to force Jeffs to testify in the trial, but Chavez sided with church lawyers in saying he was not properly subpoenaed.

Chavez scheduled oral arguments for April 14.
 
azcentral.com
Originally published March 19, 2004
 
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