Alabama Chief Justice orders state judges not to issue same-sex marriage licenses

Roy Moore, Chief Justice of The Alabama Supreme Court

(Image credit: Matthew Cavanaugh/Getty Images)

published 6 January 2016

Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore issued an administrative order Wednesday barring state judges from issuing same-sex marriage licenses. While the June 2015 Supreme Court decision legalized same-sex marriage, Moore argues that the ruling only specifically struck down same-sex marriage bans in Michigan, Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee.

This, Moore says, has caused "confusion and uncertainty" that "affects the administration of justice" as some judges interpret the ruling as requiring them to issue same-sex marriage licenses and others do not. While this gets sorted out, Moore orders that judges "have a ministerial duty not to issue any marriage license contrary" to the state's same-sex marriage ban.