Kody Brown and his wives Meri, Christine, Janelle and Robyn have all been mum about the rumors regarding "Sister Wives" Season 7's cancellation or if they are already filming the upcoming season. But with the family's latest legal battle, TLC might cancel their reality show for good.
The "Sister Wives" stars have been reportedly pushing for polygamy legalization in Utah and they recently asked a federal appeals court to uphold a ruling that "decriminalized" plural marriages in the state. Unfortunately, the court junked the Browns' appeal, saying the family had no standing to take legal action against the state of Utah over its polygamy laws, Cosmopolitan notes.
The latest blow in court suffered by the "Sister Wives" family came after they contended that Utah's polygamy ban violated the constitutional rights of Americans to liberally engage in their religion. They also stressed that the ban has violated the privacy rights of consenting adults, as well as the freedom of religious rights by prohibiting cohabitation.
The state of Utah, on the other hand, argued that they don't prosecute consenting adults in polygamous relationships. Instead, they take legal action against the crimes connected to the practice, such as underage marriage, statutory rape and sexual assault, NBC News reports.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit sided with the state of Utah on Monday and junked the appeal made by the "Sister Wives" family. According to the court, the Browns were in no position to sue the state because they were never charged and prosecutors had later changed the laws on prosecuting polygamous adults.
"Federal courts are courts of limited jurisdiction," the court wrote, Huffington Post quotes. "They lack power to decide issues - however important or fiercely contested - that are detached from a live dispute between the parties."
Meanwhile, the "Sister Wives" family attorney, Jonathan Turley, revealed in a statement that the Browns are contemplating their next plans. Turley also added that the family would appeal the ruling and might take the battle to the Supreme Court.
"The Brown family is obviously disappointed in the ruling but remains committed to this fight for the protections of religion, speech, and privacy in Utah," Turley wrote, as per USA Today. "The underlying rights of religious freedom and free speech are certainly too great to abandon after prevailing below in this case."
With the Browns' latest court battle defeat, do you think TLC will cancel "Sister Wives" Season 7 for good?
