A federal judge on Monday told a
Mobile, Alabama judge that he must issue marriage licenses to gay and
lesbian couples despite a state Supreme Court ruling ordering him to
stop.
U.S. District Judge Callie “Ginny”
Granade struck down Alabama's ban on gay marriage in January and in a
separate ruling told Mobile County Probate Judge Don Davis that he
could not ignore her decision.
The Alabama Supreme Court, which is
headed by Chief Justice Roy S. Moore, a vocal opponent of marriage
equality, handed down a ruling telling judges not to issue such
licenses.
“Although the court would agree that
the developments in these same-sex marriage cases has at times seemed
dizzying, the court finds that Judge Davis has not shown that a stay
is warranted,” Granade
wrote.
“This court's conclusion agrees with
the overwhelming consensus of courts across the country that have
addressed the constitutionality of similar state laws since the
Supreme Court's ruling in United States v. Windsor. … Judge
Davis has offered no reason why this court should now conclude that
judgment in this case is likely to be in favor of Judge Davis.”
Davis stopped issuing marriage licenses
to all couples following the state Supreme Court decision.
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