Discrimination Case Against Polygamist Towns Is Wrapping Up

05:43

February 22, 2016

Willie Jessop, a former spokesperson and head of security of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints before leaving the sect in 2011, leaves the Sandra Day O'Connor United States District Court after a day of testifying during a federal civil rights trial against two polygamous towns on the Arizona-Utah line, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016, in Phoenix. (Ross D. Franklin/AP)

Update: The trial was temporarily suspended today when Judge H. Russel Holland became ill and was taken to the hospital.

Closing arguments are expected this week in a federal civil rights trial over the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS). At issue is whether Colorado City, Arizona, and Hildale, Utah, acted as agents of the polygamous church, denying building permits and police protection to non-church members. Jude Joffe-Block of Here & Now contributor KJZZ and the Fronteras Desk has been covering the trial and joins host Meghna Chakrabarti with details.

Guest

Jude Joffe-Block, senior field correspondent for KJZZ and Fronteras Desk in Phoenix. She tweets @judejoffeblock.

This segment aired on February 22, 2016.