Alabama’s Chief Justice Attempts to Block Same-Sex Marriages

January 7, 2016

In June of 2015, the Supreme Court of the United States legalized same-sex marriage in all fifty states. In sharp contrast to the clear directives of the Supreme Court, on January 6, 2016, Alabama’s Chief Justice has taken drastic actions to prevent such marriages. He issued an Order proclaiming that all Alabama Probate Judges have a duty not to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples and declared that Alabama’s state law forbidding such marriages did not run afoul of the Obergefell v. Hodges decision. The impact of this Order will likely prevent some same-sex couples from obtaining marriage licenses. Litigation at the federal level ruled that Alabama’s law prohibiting same-sex marriage is unconstitutional – both before and after the Obergefell decision. Further litigation on a Federal level may be required to protect the constitutional rights of same-sex couples to marry. The blatant disregard of the United States District Court’s orders and the consequences of Alabama’s Chief Justice’s actions remain to be seen. Read the Order and some background on this defiant judge HERE.