Alabama Supreme Court Halts Same-Sex Marriages

Probate courts in Alabama’s populous cities have stopped issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples today, one day after the state’s Supreme Court ordered judges to do so. 

Six of the court’s nine justices concurred and a seventh in part in the 148-page ruling, published last night.  “As it has done for approximately two centuries, Alabama law allows for ‘marriage’ between only one man and one woman.  Alabama probate judges have a ministerial duty not to issue any marriage license contrary to this law,” the opinion reads.  “Nothing in the United States Constitution alters or overrides this duty.”  The court further expressed displeasure that lower federal courts have been acting while the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on same-sex marriage awaits. 

See James Queally, Ryan Parker and Kurtis Lee, Same-Sex Marriages in 2 Cities Halted After Alabama High Court Order, McClatchy DC, March 4, 2015.