Top

Sister Wives

December 17, 2011 by · Comments Off on Sister Wives 

Sister Wives, Attorneys for a polygamous family made famous on a reality television show on Friday asked a Utah federal judge not to block their challenge of the state’s bigamy law.

Kody Brown and wives Meri, Janelle, Christine and Robyn filed a lawsuit in Salt Lake City’s U.S. District Court in July.

The stars of the TLC show “Sister Wives” contend the law is unconstitutional because it violates their right to privacy- prohibiting them from living together and criminalizing their private sexual relationships.

Under Utah law, people are guilty of bigamy if they have multiple marriage licenses, or if they cohabitate with another consenting adult in a marriage-like relationship. Any couple of any sex living together in an intimate relationship is considered marriage-like under the law, and such a living arrangement would be considered a felony. Any couple of any sex living together in an intimate relationship could be considered guilty of a felony under the law.

Formerly of Lehi, the Browns and their 17 children moved to Nevada in January after police launched a bigamy investigation. The Browns practice polygamy as part of their religious beliefs.

U.S. District Court Judge Clark Waddoups heard oral arguments in the case on Friday in Salt Lake City and took the matter under advisement. It’s not clear when he will rule.

For the case to go forward, the judge must decide the Browns have been harmed by the bigamy law.

In court, the Browns’ Washington-based attorney, Jonathan Turley, said the family has suffered losses of income and been forced to move out of state because they were under investigation for bigamy.

They’ve also suffered “reputational harm” because the law labels the Browns’ family a “criminal association,” and because some Utah County prosecutors have said publicly that it would be easy for authorities bring charges because the Browns have already acknowledged felonies on national TV.

Sister Wives & Polygamy Law

July 14, 2011 by · Comments Off on Sister Wives & Polygamy Law 

'Sister Wives' & Polygamy Law‘Sister Wives’ & Polygamy Law, The polygamous family that stars in “Sister Wives” cable TV show has filed a federal lawsuit challenging Utah’s bigamy law. Kody Brown and his four wives, Meri, Janelle Christine and Robyn, sued the state of Utah on Wednesday in U.S. District Court for the revocation of the prohibition of polygamy. Brown is only legally married to one wife, Meri.

“It’s just a family that is different from other famiiles,” his lawyer, Jonathan Turley, said on the steps of the court on Wednesday.

Turley said his clients are seeking the decriminalization of your lifestyle. The family reality show argued that the state is unfair to prosecute people for their private relations.

“A person can have multiple partners,” said Turley. “They may even have children by multiple partners. They may even have children on adulterous affairs and cannot be prosecuted. But the minute someone as our customers enter and express a spiritual commitment that can be prosecuted for living together.”

The Browns were not present at the presentation of the claim. He moved to Nevada shortly after Lehi police announced they were investigating the family for bigamy after the television series began airing on TLC last year.

Pro-polygamy advocates attended the presentation of the demand. Anne Wilde, the voices of the group was first believed that the best chance so far to the legalization of plural marriage.

“This is half of the family who wants to live like a normal family and do not want the stereotypes and stigma that has joined him in Utah for a hundred years,” he told Fox 13.

Utah abandoned the practice of polygamy as a condition of state. There are an estimated 38,000 people in and around Utah who consider themselves “fundamentalist Mormons,” according to an official census by Voices first.

In recent years, the polygamists have defied the laws of Utah, arguing (like the Browns also be made at your request) for violating their right to practice their religion freely. Polygamous Tom Green and Rodney Holm tried to appeal their convictions for bigamy, but married with children.

The Browns are all consenting adults.

“There are a lot of people affected by this situation,” said Rod Parker, a lawyer who represented Holm, in an interview with Fox 13. “I’m glad to see it finally getting settled up.”

One obstacle facing the Browns or not face any real damage, making them stands in court. Turley said that living under the specter of prosecution by the Utah County Attorney. The prosecutors office said Wednesday that Fox 13 Kody Brown and their wives are still under investigation, has not been charged.

“Kody Brown is surely right to challenge the law, and the general prosecutor’s job is to defend it,” said Paul Murphy, spokesman for Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff. “So far, courts have confirmed that Utah has the right to prohibition of bigamy and regulate marriage.”

In a statement released by his lawyer, Kody Brown said: “We just want to live our private lives, according to our beliefs. While we understand that this may be a long fight in court, which has been a long struggle for my family and other families in the plural to end stereotypes and unfair treatment as consensual polygamy. ”

In an interview with Fox 13 in 2009, Christine Brown said he would be prosecuted if it meant decriminalizing polygamy.

“Bring it on, sort of,” he said. “We have a test case. It is necessary that decriminalized. People need to see that there are families out there who would be a good representation of the community’s eplural? And just live our lives like everyone else and that is the only law breaking”. The audience is not yet scheduled on demand for the Browns.

Bottom