A judge has ruled that parts of Utah’s law banning polygamy are unconstitutional, effectively decriminalizing the practice, in a victory for the family that appears in the reality TV show ‘Sister Wives’.

Kody Brown, who stars in the TLC reality show with his four wives, filed a lawsuit against the state after leaving Utah fearing prosecution after the programme aired.

Now a federal judge has issued his final ruling in the case that strikes down parts of the state’s anti-polygamy law.

U.S. District Judge Clark Waddoups has ruled that a provision of Utah’s law forbidding cohabitation violated the Browns’ freedom of religion.

He ruled in favour of the family in December and has now said that Mr Brown and his wives can collect attorneys’ fees.