Texas Supreme Court Rules Children Wrongly Taken From Sect

The Texas Supreme Court has upheld a ruling that the state had no right to remove hundreds of children from a polygamist sect. Thursday's decision affirmed a lower court's ruling and may clear the way for the children to be returned to their families.

More than 400 children were removed from the Yearning For Zion Ranch near Eldorado, Texas, nearly two months ago. But the 3rd District Court of Appeals ruled that the state's Child Protective Services did not demonstrate that all of the children on the ranch faced imminent danger. The state's high court upheld that decision, saying, "On the record before us, removal of the children was not warranted."

State officials contend that FLDS members live in environment where underage girls are forced to marry older men. Sect members deny any sexual abuse takes place and say they were persecuted because of their religion.