By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
Few are aware that a second jury trial in a civil case
involving polygamy in Juab County is being tried in federal
court.
Debra Youren, a former bus driver for West Desert High
School, filed a lawsuit against the Tintic School District
in 1998, charging she lost her job in part because she
reported "inappropriate relationships" between students and
teachers, implicating members of a local polygamist
community.
Morris Haggerty, the school district's attorney, says the
reason Youren's civil suit has attracted little
attention&emdash;when compared to Green's high profile
criminal case&emdash;is because it isn't about polygamy.
"We feel this case is strictly about Ms. Youren's
employment," Haggerty said.
Youren's attorney, Loren Lambert disagreed.
"It's the culture that has developed out there because of
polygamy, which is the reason why a lot of these things
happened," he said.
Youren alleges the inappropriate relationships between
teachers and students.
In pretrial hearings, Lambert fought to keep specifics
about polygamy in the trial, while Haggerty argued to U.S.
District Judge Dale A. Kimball that such information would
prejudice jurors.
While Lambert argued it would be impossible to present
Youren's case without some mention and explanation of
polygamy. "When a jury knows the culture and context of this
case," he said, "everything about Youren's termination
becomes clear."
Kimball agreed the jury could not be shielded entirely
from any mention of polygamy. He also ruled that jurors
would not be allowed to hear allegations that a teacher and
the principal of West Desert High have each married former
students.
The high school, located in Trout Creek, has just 29
students, grades seven through 12.
|
