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PRICE — A judge who attracted national attention for ordering that a baby be removed from her lesbian foster parents, stating the child would be better off in the care of a heterosexual couple, has retired.

Scott Johansen retired from his judgeship in the 7th District Juvenile Court effective Jan. 1, according to a judicial vacancy posting on a state website.

Ray Wahl, deputy Utah state courts administrator, said Monday "there's no relation between the (foster care) case … and (Johansen's) retirement. He's retiring for personal reasons."

Asked whether Johansen's retirement was part of a long-term plan or a recent decision, Wahl answered, "I think it would be short term."

In November, Johansen ruled that a 9-month-old girl be removed from the custody of married Price couple April Hoagland and Beckie Peirce. His decision was challenged by the Utah Division of Child and Family Services. Johansen reversed his order later that week and eventually removed himself from the case.

Hoagland and Peirce, who are licensed foster parents, said in November they were planning to adopt the baby girl.

Johansen's original ruling drew heavy backlash from the Alliance for a Better Utah, which launched a petition on www.Change.org asking for the judge to be impeached. The Human Rights Campaign, a national LGBT rights group, submitted a complaint against Johansen to the Utah Judicial Conduct Commission.

The state Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice is accepting applications for the juvenile court judgeship through Feb. 16. The jurisdiction of the 7th District Juvenile Courts includes Carbon, Emery, Grand and San Juan counties.

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