Alabama Couple Files to Hold Judge in Contempt for Not Issuing Gay Marriage Licenses
A same-sex couple is asking Alabama Judge Don Davis to be held in contempt after he appeared to refuse to issue marriage licenses hours after a ruling went into effect overturning the state’s ban.
A district judge struck down Alabama’s prohibition on same-sex marriage last month, and on Monday morning the Supreme Court declined to grant the state a stay on the ruling, effectively legalizing the practice. The plot thickened when Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore — of the Ten Commandments in the courtroom fame — told probate justices to ignore the district court’s ruling and deny same-sex marriage couples licenses. The conflicting rulings have left probate judges in what’s known as an Alabama tire pickle.
Lines were reported around the block at numerous Alabama county courthouses, but the Mobile County Courthouse remained closed for several hours this morning before opening for other business, leaving numerous couples who had arrived at the start of business waiting outside.
One couple filed a request with Judge Callie V.S. “Ginny” Granade, the district judge who overturned the ban, to hold Davis in contempt for not issuing the licenses, comparing him to former Governor George Wallace, who resisted integration and civil rights rulings in the 50s and 60s.
“The Honorable Don Davis has not given a reason why the marriage license division is closed on this particular day, and he has not stated as to when the office will reopen,” the request said, per AL.com.
Meanwhile around the state multiple couples successfully received licenses around the state:
First gay couple to go to get marriage license pic.twitter.com/tkY7TC4C9o
— Alan Collins (@fox6alancollins) February 9, 2015
A judge in Alabama after performing a same-sex marriage ceremony in Birmingham. pic.twitter.com/E1S6xNdDR4
— Alan Blinder (@alanblinder) February 9, 2015
After conflicting federal rulings, the Supreme Court is expected to decide on same-sex marriages later in the spring. In the meantime Alabama became the 37th state to allow the practice.
[h/t AL.com]
[Image via Shutterstock]
