Utah Judge Reverses Order to Take Foster Child From Same-Sex Couple

— -- A Utah judge today reversed his decision after saying in court Tuesday that a foster child would be removed from a lesbian couple's home.

In an order released today, Seventh District Juvenile Court Judge Scott Johansen is now allowing the baby to stay with April Hoagland and Beckie Peirce, a married same-sex couple. The couple plans to adopt the child and was in court on Tuesday for a routine hearing when the judge made his original decision.

Johansen crossed out several lines in the original order, including two that said: "the Court believes that it is not in the best interest of children to be raised by same-sex couples" and "the court orders the Division to place the child with a duly married, heterosexual foster adoptive couple within one week."

The original ruling said the baby would be taken from the couple's home, but state officials and the couple filed challenges in court asking the judge to rescind the decision.

The original order said: "The Court cited its belief that research has shown that children are more emotionally and mentally stable when raised by a mother and father in the same home." The revised order was changed to read "The court cited a concern" instead of "cited its belief."

The baby, 9 months old, has been in the married couple's home since August, the Utah Division of Child and Family Services said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.