U.S. District Judge Clark Waddoups made the ruling Friday in the case filed by Kody Brown and his four wives — Meri, Janelle, Christine and Robyn. They've argued that Utah's bigamy law should be overturned because it violates their right to privacy.

Utah officials sought to have the suit thrown out. They first argued that the Browns couldn't challenge the bigamy law because they hadn't been charged. State attorneys later argued for dismissal because a prosecutor had pledged not to prosecute them for bigamy.

But Waddoups wrote in his ruling that the promise from the Utah County Attorney's Office appeared to be a ploy to avoid the suit.

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Information from: The Salt Lake Tribune, http://www.sltrib.com