'Sister Wives' Case Goes To Court: Everything You Need To Know About The 'Historic' Polygamy Ruling

The stars of TLC’s hit reality show “Sister Wives” are going to court again — or so their case is. On Thursday, the Brown family’s lawyer, Jonathan Turley, revealed that he would be arguing on behalf of the plural clan, asking a federal appeals court to uphold a ruling that decriminalized polygamy. The argument was held this morning in Denver.

Here’s everything you need to know about the “Sister Wives” court case below:

• Kody Challenged The Court
  Kody, who stars on the reality show with his four wives — Meri, Janelle, Christine and Robyn — along with his 18 children, was the one to initially sue Utah and challenge the court on the prohibition of polygamy. The patriarch of the plural family expressed that the ban on cohabitation violated the family’s rights to “privacy and religious freedom" after his family was investigated by Lehi police when the TLC show premiered in 2010.
• Polygamy Becomes Legalized In Utah
  In December 2013, the United States District Court Judge Clarke Waddoups agreed with Kody, ruling that Utah’s anti-polygamy law was unconstitutional. This allowed the Brown family to live legally as a plural family in the state of Utah. The brood currently resides in Las Vegas.
• Why Judge Waddoups Ended Ban On Cohabitation
  Judge Waddoups explained that he struck down the law due to violations against the First Amendment, according to the New York Times, which grants the freedom to exercise religion. Turley added in a blog post that the provision also violated the due process clause.
• Kody Released A Statement After Historic Win
  After what Turley described as a “historic” win, Kody shared a statement on the ruling.
  “The entire Brown family is humbled and grateful for this historical ruling from the court today. Like thousand of other plural families, we have waited many years for this day,” he began, noting that he understands “many people do not approve” of his family’s lifestyle. “Just as we respect the personal and religious choices of other families, we hope that in time all of our neighbors and fellow citizens will come to respect our own choice as part of this wonderful country of different faiths and beliefs.”
• Turley Was Prepared For Another Battle
  Turley revealed that if that State decided to fight against Judge Waddoups’s ruling, which they did, then he would be prepared to defend the Brown clan once again.
• What Happens Now?
  The case now goes to the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit and could potentially reach the Supreme Court. This would be the first time in more than 100 years that highest federal court has seen a polygamy case, University of Utah law professor Amos Guiora told Fox 13.