(KUTV) The juvenile court judge in Price who ruled a foster child should not be placed in a same sex couple's home has now rescinded that ruling.
Judge Scott Johansen from the 7th district juvenile court changed the wording in the court documents released Friday to say the court's 'concern' rather than 'belief' when referring to possible negative effects on the child placed with same sex parents, among other alterations.
An attorney for the parents trying to keep their young foster child said he believed the judge simply made a mistake, realized it and is now trying to correct it.
"The judicial system is getting it right. They made a mistake a couple days ago. Today they corrected that mistake," Jim Hunnicutt told reporters Friday at a press conference outside the Price courthouse.
"I'm just so grateful the judge won't be taking our baby out of our home today," April Hoagland said.
Hoagland and her spouse Beckie Peirce told reporters Friday they are thrilled with the judge's decision to change his ruling in their case.
"At first, I thought it was untrue. When I found out it was true, we were ecstatic," Peirce said.
She said all the national attention they've received has been supportive, but a bit unnerving, "It is a really awkward place to be, but we will do what we have to to fight for this child."
"Same sex couples now have same rights as their heterosexual counterparts,"
Troy Williams from Equality Utah said April and Beckie are good moms, discriminated against by the judge because they are gay.
They said they had never met this kind of resistance before. The couple legally wed last year and are raising two teenagers of their own. They say they are hopeful they can now move forward in the process of legally adopting their foster child.
Their next court appearance is set for Dec. 4.
The couple thanked their supporters and said even the governor, attorney general and others who seemed to be on the other side in recent weeks were now speaking out on the side of the law.
"It is heartwarming that we not only have the support of our community but it seems the entire nation," Haugland said.
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