San Angelo Barbara Walther district judge was forced to suspend proceedings amid scenes of chaos at the custody hearings of the children seized from the Yearning for Zion polygamist ranch.
Lawyers acting for the members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints are arguing that the case violates their religious freedoms.
The FLDS, a breakaway branch of the Mormon faith, led by self-proclaimed prophet Warren Jeffs, currently in jail on charges of complicity to rape, claims 10,000 members
The fate of 416 children is being considered in San Angelo.
At least one minor is reported to be pregnant and four girls under 16 already have children. More than 350 lawyers are involved.
The relatively restrained BBC story follows below -
For rather more detail and analysis, I have found the Salt Lake Tribune, the market-leading publication in the mainstream Mormon capital of Utah, to be invaluable.
http://www.sltrib.com/polygamy/ci_8969119
