Jury selection is set to begin Tuesday at a trial that will examine allegations that polygamous towns on the Arizona-Utah line have discriminated against people who aren't part of the communities' dominant religious sect.
The U.S. Justice Department alleges that Colorado City, Arizona, and Hildale, Utah, denied housing, water services and police protection to nonbelievers.
Police officers are accused of assisting sect leader Warren Jeffs while he was a fugitive.
The towns are accused of serving as an arm of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
The sect broke away from mainstream Mormonism when it disavowed polygamy more than 100 years ago.
The towns deny the allegations and say religion isn't a motivating factor in their decisions.
Lawyers are tentatively set to make opening arguments Wednesday.