Roy Moore, the ultra-conservative chief justice of the Alabama’s Supreme Court, just won’t give up:
The chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court today issued an administrative order prohibiting probate courts from issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
Chief Justice Roy Moore's order found that a June ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court that struck down laws banning same-sex marriage in Michigan, Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee did not necessarily affect Alabama's similar laws.
He wants to hold off issuing licenses until a different case in Alabama is decided:
Moore wrote that a pending case in the state Supreme Court must be decided before it was clear whether the reasoning of the U.S. Supreme Court would be adopted in Alabama.
"Until further decision by the Alabama Supreme Court, the existing orders of the Alabama Supreme Court that Alabama probate judges have a ministerial duty not to issue any marriage license contrary to the Alabama Sanctity of Marriage Amendment or the Alabama Marriage Protection Act remain in full force and effect," Moore wrote.
Wednesday, Jan 6, 2016 · 7:01:12 PM +00:00 · Jen Hayden
More from AL.com:
Moore said he issued the order today in his role as administrative head of the state court system. He quoted a state law that says the chief justice is empowered to "take affirmative and appropriate action to correct or alleviate any condition or situation adversely affecting the administration of justice within the state."
Moore wrote that since the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that many Alabama probate judges are issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples, while others are issuing licenses only to opposite-sex couples or not issuing licenses at all.
"This disparity affects the administration of justice in this state," he wrote.