Two counties out of marriage business for good after Supreme Court ruling

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: AL.com, the Alabama Media Group

By Amy Yurkanin | [e-mail]

on June 26, 2015 at 10:04 AM, updated June 26, 2015 at 1:51 PM

Pike County officials haven't issued marriage licenses in months, and today Probate Judge Wes Allen announced that his office is now permanently out of the marriage business.

"My office discontinued issuing marriage licenses in February and I have no plans to put Pike County back into the marriage business," Allen wrote in a statement. "The policy of my office regarding marriage is no different today than it was yesterday."

Geneva County Probate Judge Fred Hamic also said he intends to permanently close the marriage license bureau in his office, if his attorneys don't object. ... Both judges cited Alabama Code Section 30-1-9: "Marriage licenses may be issued by the judges of probate of the several counties."

The law says "may" instead of "shall", Hamic said, which makes a big difference. He said the law permits probate judges to opt of of isuing marriage licenses. ... "This decision is not based on me being a homophobic, people can do whatever they want in private," Hamic said. "It is based strictly on my Christian beliefs."

Read more: http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2015/06/alabama_probate_office_closes.html

[truthisfreedom]

1. The christian beliefs, of course, selectively taken from the bible... because

polygamy was the marriage of the day.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

2. And the hate lives on. nt

[Angry Dragon]

3. too bad they would not notice Jesus if he slapped their faces

[RKP5637]

27. They would string him up on their cross as some damn hippie yapping about love and

kindness. To be a christian today, well, as often in the past, one has to love hatred and discrimination.

[LibertyLover]

4. If this judge is basing his decision on his personal relgious beliefs

than he is breaking the law and should be arrested and impeached.

[SunSeeker]

18. He's violating the 1st Am guarantee of separation of church and state.

That "judge" is such an ignorant ass wipe. How the hell did he pass the bar?!

If he wants to proselytize his religion, he needs to get the fuck off the bench.

[RKP5637]

28. And Antonin Scalia needs to go with him! n/t

[mindem]

5. It is time some people start losing their jobs.

There are way too many people acting like their "religious freedom" supersedes all other freedom. It's dangerous.

[RKP5637]

30. If they can't do the job then they need to be fired. It's a public office, not a pulpit! n/t

[Jack Rabbit]

7. Haven't we seen this before?

When the courts ordered public swimming pools integrated, some communities simply closed the public swimming pool.

[SheilaT]

8. When they required public schools be integrated

some places closed the public schools. And they remained closed for years.

[TlalocW]

9. So doesn't this mean...

That no marriages in those counties will be performed because even if it's a church wedding, don't you need something from the state/county?

TlalocW

[Igel]

17. No.

You can go next county over, I'm sure.

Plus church weddings have no more authority than JP weddings. What matters is that somebody sign the license to say that the proper speech act has been performed to produce a marriage.

That said, you can have a wedding and it won't have any significance as a legal marriage.

[TlalocW]

21. I think you're agreeing with me

I said no weddings in that county would be performed. And if no one is signing a license in those counties then both church and JP weddings are out so no marriages in those counties then. Yes, you could go a county over, but some people probably would like to get married at a church or other location in those counties, so along with dissing homosexuals, they're dissing heterosexuals, which I guess is fair, but I can't see that last too long.

TlalocW

[Cal Carpenter]

25. Your wedding can still be in those counties

afaik. You have to get a license before your actual wedding. You can get your license in one county, and perform the actual wedding/marriage in another one, whether or not they issue licenses. This may not be universal but I'm pretty sure it is.

I did that just out of convenience when I got married. It was in a different state and we picked up the license at the state capitol on our way, and then went a few counties further north for our wedding which was 2 days later.

So you may have to drive a half hour or hour to get your license, but you can still have the wedding performed by a JP or religious person or whatever in the county of your choice.

To be clear, though, I am not in any way defending these fuckers who are refusing to do their job because somehow they interpret 'separation of church and state' to mean the opposite of what it really means.

[SoCalNative]

10. More douchebaggery

from the right-wing nutjobs

[riderinthestorm]

11. I was afraid of this kind of thing... Unfortunately I think there will be more

by the time this plays out in the next week or so...

[Liberalagogo]

12. "...being a homophobic...."

Homophobic what? Asshole? Cause that's what you're being. Geez, be a bigot if you want, but at least own up to it and learn to use the language properly.

[restorefreedom]

32. i caught that too. was just about to paste and comment when i saw your post.

sad and infuriating at the same time imo.

[kimbutgar]

13. Lost revenue for these bigoted counties.

A nearby county should advertise they are willing to issue licenses and marry gay couples.

[2QT2BSTR8]

14. So...then...he's a homophobic 'christian'?

And he is forcing his beliefs into his job as a government official.

Allrighty then.

[jmowreader]

15. Judge, a word to the wise

When you make a decision that curtails the civil rights of your whole community then announce it's not based on you being a homophobe, you did it because you are a homophobe.

Remember "but some of my best friends are black!"?

[Igel]

20. Sadly, the right is due process.

I don't think his "may" versus "shall" argument holds water, but if he hasn't been issuing marriage licenses then he hasn't been issuing marriage licenses. It's equal, therefore equality of due process is upheld.

Unless due process has to hold over the entire state, which is a completely different can of worms. How fine-grained is "due process" in that case?

We could easily move to a system that still exists in some European countries. There's registering your partnership; there are weddings. The two are completely unrelated. The first occurs at a window with some clerk writing your names in a ledger, stamping your passports or ID cards, providing your registration number and saying you'll get your certificate in the mail in 2-6 weeks. The second occurs in a church or in a JP's office and is more of a community-based instead of a government-based recognition.

[Xipe Totec]

16. Why stop there? Shut down the entire office and save the tax payers some money. nt

[SunSeeker]

19. Ah, the last gasps of homophobic shit as it circles down the toilet of history. nt

[uncle ray]

23. yup, just like racism breathed it's last gasp in the 60's.n/t.

[Quackers]

39. Yeah, but man can that mother fucker hold its breath.

Even after all these decades, it is still there just under the surface.

[cstanleytech]

22. Well they are apparently correct that the law says "may" but

if they issue one single marriage license or agree to perform a marriage ceremony as a government official then they showed be sued.

[LiberalFighter]

24. Pike County loses out on nearly $12,000 in revenue.

[cynzke]

41. And Jobs!

Close the clerks office and put employees out of a job. Wedding related business losing contracts because NO ONE can get a license to marry. Some states are suggesting refusing to issue licenses and forcing couples to sue the county/state. Great waste tax payer money with cases that will favor for couples. All to keeps gays from getting married in these states.

[RKP5637]

26. Why do christian beliefs today embody so much endless hatred for so many things.

I guess the rules for being a christian have changed since my youth. One reason I left religion and have never looked back, I've seen it for what it is despite the brainwashing in my youth.

[restorefreedom]

33. it has become more of a political/social lifetyle for many on the conservative side

and quite bluntly, a tool for bullying.

sad.

[jeff47]

38. Because religion is an excellent tool for manipulating people

into voting against their personal interests and beliefs.

"I really don't care what other people do in private, but my pastor says it's terrible and we have to stop it"

[Gloria]

29. What, do these people own these offices??

They can just close down a public office because they feel like it??

JERKS

[RKP5637]

31. Apparently, they think their bench is a pulpit. If they can't hack the job, then they should be

fired!

[Gloria]

36. Yes, along with PHARMACISTS who don't give women PRESCRIPTIONS

for morning after pills, etc.!!!!!!

[restorefreedom]

34. can't wait till the feds start issuing marriage licenses

which will they will be forced to do if people have to drive 200 miles to a county where they can get married.

so stop issuing licenses to everyone to make a point, and invite the feds into your county to do it instead.

ya that'll show everyone.

[merrily]

35. Bibllically, Hamic has it wrong. The OT speaks of men having sex with each other. It says nothing

at all about their marrying each other. So, he's ok with them having sex, but not a ceremony?

If you are going to do awful things to people and blame it on the Bible, you at least ought to have read Bible once.

Moreover, the Bible makes a statement about God, who, if you believe in him at all, is a big boy who can take of his own likes and dislikes. The Bible never says anyone has to do a thing about gays. The Bible also says gossip is one of the sins God hates most. Has Hamic gossiped? Was Hamic issuing marriage licenses to gossips? Were people selling cakes to gossips?

Please stop this, people. Please.

[Arugula Latte]

46. Not to mention, the Bible is just a collection of myths from a primitive civilization.

It's very sad it's even a "thing" in this day and age.

[merrily]

48. My point is, if you claim to be proceeding as you are because of the Bible, at least get it right.

[Solly Mack]

37. It's still hate even when you cloak it in religion.

[father founding]

43. whaat is hate really

Usury is real hate.

[Solly Mack]

44. Hate takes many forms.

[olddad56]

40. Its Alabama, if two people can't get married can they still be siblings?

[Fortinbras Armstrong]

42. If I don't get my way, I'm taking my ball home so no one can play

Most of us grew out of that attitude by the age of ten or so.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

45. updated June 27, 2015 at 11:48 AM

AL.com has been updating the article to include comments from additional probate judges. From today:

Probate Judge Ryan Robertson of Cleburne County said he will stop performing marriages in his courthouse. He has not made any firm decision on whether he will issue marriage licenses.

"I still have three weeks to make a decision," Robertson said. "I will be praying on it. I sure don't want to hurt folks in my county who want to get married traditionally."

Same-sex marriage couples? Sure, no problem hurting them.

I don't know how the system in Alabama works, but I'm guessing that a marriage license from any city or county in Alabama is good statewide. People can go to any municipality in Alabama and get a license that work. I'm not saying that they should have to do that. I believe that is wrong that they should have to do that.

[3catwoman3]

47. Excellent question/statement above, Merrily.

"Moreover, the Bible makes a statement about God, who, if you believe in him at all, is a big boy who can take of his own likes and dislikes."

I have pondered this many, many times. Is Gawd so weak that he/she/it needs human beings to stand guard for him/her/it? Why not be content to just ignore these terrible sinners and let them take their chances when they get to the mythical Pearly Gates.

There are a variety of behaviors that people engage in that I may not find personally appealing. This does not affect my life in any way, so I do not spend any emotional energy fretting over such things. A popular phrase when I was a kid was, "MYOB." Mind Your Own Business. I make every effort to do so.

[Sunlei]

49. well if that county business is so slow they should pink slip him too & save the money.