Utah Judge in Gay Foster Case Retires

A Utah judge who came into the national spotlight after he ordered a baby to be removed from her lesbian foster parents and placed with a heterosexual couple has retired. Scott Johansen retired from his judgeship on Jan. 1, court officials announced Monday. Ray Wahl, deputy Utah state courts administrator, said the retirement was not connected to the foster case and his decision to do so was for “personal reasons.” Johansen sparked a backlash after he ordered a 9-month-old taken from her married foster parents. He later reversed the ruling and recused himself from the case.