‘Sister Wives’ News: Federal Judge Rules In Favor Of Brown Family, Says County Attorney Violated Rights To ‘Free Speech, Religion And Equal Protection’ [VIDEO]
Despite the family fleeing to Las Vegas to escape prosecution for practicing polygamy, the Brown Family, who star on TLC's Sister Wives, have finally found themselves being awarded some victory for their lifestyle.
Meri and Robyn Keeping Away From The Rest of The Family?
A federal judge finalized the order striking part of Utah's bigamy law on August 27, after an initial ruling in December that struck the section of Utah's bigamy statute that can be applied when someone "cohabits with another person" to whom they are not legally married. Utah made this a felony punishable up to five years in prison, before it was found that the ban violated both the First and 14th amendments to the Constitution.
The family, who lived in Lehi, Utah back in 2010 became the subjects of a criminal investigation due to the law, as the only legal marriage was the one between Kody and his first wife, Meri-but the spiritual union between Kody and his other wives-Janelle, Christine and Robyn-broke the law. To escape persecution, the family fled to Las Vegas.
Robyn's Pregnancy Being Kept Secret For Ratings?
The initial December judgment, handed down by Federal Judge Clark Waddoups said the investigation by Utah County Attorney Jeff Buhman violated the family's rights to free speech, religion and equal protection.
However, despite the bigamy law officially being struck down in whole, the family may not want to consider returning to Utah any time soon, as the state Attorney General has vowed to appeal the decision.
The need to move to Nevada became a large part of the show's second season, where they fled to the city and dealt with the behavioral changes in their children as a result of the move-though the investigation itself was not extensively discussed.
