Utah judge who ordered removal of child from lesbian couple recuses himself
Source: CNN
Utah judge who ordered removal of child from lesbian couple recuses himself
By Ana Cabrera, Greg Botelho, Chandrika Narayan, Tiffany Ap, CNN
Updated 0528 GMT (1328 HKT) November 17, 2015
(CNN) - A Utah judge who sparked a public backlash for removing a foster child from the home of a lesbian couple has removed himself from the case.
Juvenile Court Judge Scott Johansen "hereby disqualifies himself from this case and refers all pending matters to be assigned by the presiding judge," a court order issued Monday said.
Johansen initially decided to take a baby away from her same-sex foster parents and place her in a home with heterosexual parents saying the child would be better off.
Facing mounting criticism and calls for impeachment, he'd already reversed his order, according to court documents obtained by CNN last Friday.
He amended his first ruling, crossing out the line in the order that read, "The Court orders the Division to place the child with a duly married, heterosexual foster-adoptive couple within one week."
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