Church-State Watchdog Group Calls On State Probate Judges To Ignore Chief Justice’s Order

Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore’s latest attempt to block marriage equality in Alabama is a pathetic gesture that is doomed to fail, and it should be ignored by state officials, Americans United for Separation of Church and State says.

Moore today ordered all probate judges in Alabama to stop issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples and suggested that a state constitutional amendment and a law limiting marriage to opposite-sex couples remain in force.

Moore is flat-out wrong, says Americans United.

“I have a news flash for Roy Moore: The U.S. Supreme Court upheld marriage equality in June and the decision extends nationwide,” said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United. “All Alabama probate judges remain bound by a federal court order to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.”

Continued Lynn, “Moore is a dangerous demagogue who seems to believe that he can overrule our nation’s highest court from his legal fiefdom in Montgomery. He can’t, and state and local officials should continue to ignore him.”

As part of its Protect Thy Neighbor project, Americans United is representing same-sex couples in court who encountered difficulties obtaining marriage licenses in Alabama. A federal trial court in Alabama has ordered all Alabama probate judges to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

AU has vowed to pursue vigorous legal action against probate judges who defy the Supreme Court’s ruling and the federal trial court’s order.

Lynn said Moore’s antics have grown tiresome.

“Roy Moore is the judicial equivalent of segregationists like George Wallace who stood in a schoolhouse door to block equality and freedom,” Lynn said. “Wallace lost, and Moore will lose too.”