Alabama’s stand against same-sex marriage crumbles as more counties comply with federal ruling

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While many Republican politicians in Alabama criticized her ruling last month and tried to link her to Obama administration policies, Granade was appointed to the federal bench by President George W. Bush.

Granade could have stayed her decision pending a final U.S. Supreme Court ruling. Instead, she rejected Alabama’s argument that keeping gays and lesbians from marrying benefits the state’s children. And after Moore urged judges this week to ignore her ruling, she reiterated that they are bound by the U.S. Constitution to treat all couples equally.

Lee County’s probate judge, Bill English, said Friday that Granade’s order “makes it clear” he had to open his courthouse doors.

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Moore’s stand against federal authority surprised no one in Alabama, where the 68-year-old jurist who twice ran for governor burnished his conservative image a decade ago with a losing fight to keep his Ten Commandments statue inside the Alabama Judicial Building.

While Moore again appeared on the losing side Friday, a longtime supporter said the 81 percent of Alabama voters who chose to ban gay marriage in 2006 would appreciate his stand.

“I think this lady judge is scaring the daylights out of these people,” Orange Beach businessman Dean Young said. “The people are very thankful that Judge Moore is standing up.”