Alabama Supreme Court Refuses to Defy U.S. Supreme Court on Gay Marriage

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Alabama Court Refuses to Defy Supreme Court on Gay Marriage

By JAY REEVES, ASSOCIATED PRESS
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Mar 4, 2016, 2:22 PM ET

The Alabama Supreme Court is refusing to defy the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that effectively legalized same-sex marriage nationwide.

The court issued a one-sentence order Friday dismissing a challenge by a probate judge and a conservative policy group that wanted the state to bar gay marriage despite the landmark federal decision.

In one of several written opinions accompanying the order, Justice Greg Shaw called the decision a "clear refusal" to ignore the Supreme Court ruling last June.

Several other state justices railed against the high court's ruling while noting they can't overturn it.

Chief Justice Roy Moore wrote that previous state orders barring gay marriage in Alabama remain. Most probate judges already are ignoring that directive, however, and hundreds of same-sex couples already have wed in Alabama.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/alabama-court-refuses-defy-supreme-court-gay-marriage-37404994

[TeddyR]

1. I actually find this ruling a bit confusing

According to Moore, it leaves in place the Alabama Supreme Court directive (or maybe the Roy Moore directive) that prohibits the issuance of same-sex marriage licenses, which (I believe) some probate judges are complying with.

[SheilaT]

2. Didn't this country fight some sort a war

a while back about whether or not the states had to obey federal laws?

Of course, one solution might be to declare that state no longer in the Union and cut off every bit of federal aid that comes their way.

[Eugene]

3. Roy Moore's order confuses the situation, but most lower court judges are ignoring him.

The Supreme Court as a body is following the U.S. Constitution
with much grumbling from conservative justices. Petitions
to block same-sex marriage are being struck down.