Warren Jeffs trial: It's on

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Here's my first story on the decision to deny requests for delays and keep the Jeffs trial on as scheduled, compiled from the fine reporting done by the San Angelo Standard-Times:

The Texas trial of polygamous sect leader Warren Jeffs will begin Monday as scheduled and a defense attorney he fired will have to stay on, a judge ruled Wednesday, according to the San Angelo Standard Times.

Jeffs, 55, is charged with sexual assault and bigamy connected with two alleged underage spiritual marriage.

This week, a visiting judge rebuffed Jeffs's attempt to have Walther removed on claims she is biased. When Walther took the bench Wednesday, she denied a motion to withdraw from defense attorney Jeff Kearney, who Jeffs fired two weeks ago, according to the paper.

Another lawyer, Deric Walpole of McKinney, offered to take over, but asked for a continuance of at least 180 days and a change of venue, the paper reported. After a half-hour recess, she ruled all of Jeffs defense attorneys must be available to represent him.

Walther is expected to make other trial-related rulings later this afternoon.

— Reporter Lindsay Whitehurst contributed to this story.

And yes, my travel plans are set. It's like the Boy Scouts say, be prepared.