Tony Alamo Christian Ministries has 45 days to offer evidence in federal court supporting an assertion that the Arkansas Department of Human Services acted in “bad faith” in state custody proceedings.

If the ministry’s lawyer, Phillip Kuhn of Florida, can convince U.S. District Judge Harry Barnes that DHS is using a child abuse investigation as a front to disband the controversial church, the suit will continue.

If not, established legal doctrine that prevents federal court involvement in state court cases will probably lead to a dismissal of the lawsuit.

“A...

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