Supreme Court Backs Gay Marriages in Alabama-Judge Roy Moore Loses Mind
Ever heard the south described as a “law and order” kinda place? How minorities and the poor better comply or else? Oh and guess what judge was involved?
An image from the days of slavery to remind us how some cultures refuse even gradual change. Minorities, gays, those that are not Christian, or the right kind of Christian… The list is long.
Selectivity here there be thy name….. Unequal protection under the law from the same part of the country that refused integrated schools back when.
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court refused on Monday to halt same-sex marriages in Alabama, paving the way for the first gay couples to marry in the state that day. But a handful of probate judges in Alabama have reportedly refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples — or issue any marriage licenses at all — because Alabama’s top judge instructed them to defy the federal court ruling.
Upon the request of Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange, a federal judge put a stay on the ruling that overturned the state’s ban on gay marriage, but that stay expired on Monday. The Supreme Court had the opportunity to intervene by temporarily putting a hold on same-sex marriages, but declined to do so in a 7-2 decision on Monday. As a result, Alabama becomes the 37th state where gay marriage is allowed.
While the Supreme Court’s decision should, in theory, have allowed gay and lesbian marriages to proceed, Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore complicated the matter Sunday night by sending an order to state probate judges telling them not to issue marriage licenses to gay couples. Last month, Moore threatened to defy the “tyranny” of federal courts on the gay marriage issue. The justice is famous for previously disobeying a federal court’s order to remove a monument to the Ten Commandments in the state judicial building.
Despite Moore’s orders, many same-sex marriages did proceed in Alabama on Monday.
More: Supreme Court Refuses to Stop Gay Marriages in Alabama