Alabama chief justice defies Supreme Court gay marriage ruling, forbids clerks to issue licenses

(RNS) — Alabama's probate courts may not issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, the chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court has ordered. Chief Justice Roy Moore ruled Wednesday (Jan. 6) that Alabama's Marriage Protection Act, which bars such unions, remains "in full force and effect" despite a June ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court that struck down similar laws banning same-sex marriage in Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee, according to USA Today.

(RNS) — Alabama's probate courts may not issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, the chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court has ordered. Chief Justice Roy Moore ruled Wednesday (Jan. 6) that Alabama's Marriage Protection Act, which bars such unions, remains "in full force and effect" despite a June ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court that struck down similar laws banning same-sex marriage in Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee, according to USA Today.…