Polygamist leader Jeffs set for court hearing

Salt Lake City, USA - A judge in Salt Lake City today is scheduled to hear arguments on a petition from polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs to quash an extradition agreement between Utah and Texas.

Jeffs leads the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The Utah-based church practices polygamy in arranged marriages.

Jeffs is wanted in West Texas on charges of bigamy, aggravated sexual assault and assault charges allegedly involving girls at a church ranch near Eldorado. The charges stem from church and family records seized during a 2008 raid.

Defense attorneys say Jeffs should not go to Texas until his Utah cases are resolved. The Utah Supreme Court in July overturned his 2007 convictions on accomplice rape charges. Jeffs remains in custody while Utah authorities decide whether to retry him.