Marriage

Man Challenges Polygamy Law

Will seek protection for his “intimate conduct.”

The family at the center of the reality TV show, Sister Wives, will soon be in court to challenge Utah’s antipolygamy law. The state of Utah said it planned to investigate the Browns after the show premiered in 2010. On Wednesday, they’ll file a lawsuit to challenge the polygamy law. The Browns do not seek recognition for their multiple marriages. (Kody Brown is civilly married to only one of his wives; the rest are “sister wives,” with no legal recognition.) Instead, lawyers will argue that the Browns deserve protection under the Supreme Court’s Lawrence v. Texas ruling, which struck down state antisodomy laws. They will argue that, under that ruling, the state is prohibited from intruding on the “intimate conduct” of consenting adults. So long as they are not in violation of other laws, like incest or seeking multiple marriage licenses, the Browns will argue that their “intimate conduct” deserves protection too.