News (USA)

Federal judge won’t stay order in Alabama same-sex marriage case

Federal judge won’t stay order in Alabama same-sex marriage case
U.S. District Judge Callie V.S. Granade
U.S. District Judge Callie V.S. Granade

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — A federal judge is not backing off her order to an Alabama probate judge that he must issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

U.S. District Judge Callie Granade on Monday refused to stay her order to Mobile County Probate Judge Don Davis. Granade in January ruled that Alabama’s gay-marriage ban is unconstitutional and told Davis that he could not refuse licenses because of a couple’s sexual orientation.

The Alabama Supreme Court, however, issued a ruling earlier this month telling all probate judges to refuse to issue the licenses.

Granade said the “overwhelming consensus” of courts across the country is that the bans are unconstitutional.

Following the state Supreme Court decision, Davis shut down all marriage-license operations altogether to avoid running afoul of either order.

© 2015, Associated Press, All Rights Reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Don't forget to share:

Support vital LGBTQ+ journalism

Reader contributions help keep LGBTQ Nation free, so that queer people get the news they need, with stories that mainstream media often leaves out. Can you contribute today?

Cancel anytime · Proudly LGBTQ+ owned and operated

A gay dad’s open letter to Dolce and Gabbana

Previous article

25 arrested at Idaho capitol in protests over lack of LGBT protections

Next article