What the Warren Jeffs case is about

Findlaw.com has a good article about the Warren Jeffs case. As you may be aware, the leader of the FLDS polygamist sect has been indicted on child rape charges. While many news outlets have plugged the case mercilessly ever since Jeffs was placed on the FBI's most wanted list, very few articles have accurately identified the legal issues. The Findlaw article correctly states that the case has little to do with polygamy, but everything to do with child rape.

The article is by Erik Luna, director of the Utah Criminal Justice Center at the University of Utah Law School. Luna discusses the legality of anti-polygamy laws, but he notes that the Jeffs case is not related to those issues. Most interesting for those interested in criminal law, Luna looks at the allegations Jeffs faces, and discusses some of the factual and legal defenses Jeffs may raise. The article is here.