The stars of TLC’s reality TV show Sister Wives are polygamist Kody Brown, his four sister wives, Meri, Janelle, Christine and Robyn, and their 17 children. They have been living as a plural family in the state of Utah (and Nevada) for years but since the show started in 2010, Brown has been under criminal investigation. Polygamy is illegal in all 50 states. Brown has always maintained that his lifestyle was legal as he is legally married to only one woman, Meri. He describes his other relationships as spiritual unions.
Federal Judge Clark Waddoups recently ruled that portions of Utah’s ban on multiple cohabitation were unconstitutional and found in favor of the Browns. While his ruling “struck down language criminalizing cohabitation–the provision that is used to prosecute polygamists,” Brown still can’t hold more than one marriage license.
