Ala. chief justice orders halt to same-sex marriage licenses

The Washington Post: Alabama’s controversial chief justice on Wednesday ordered counties to stop issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples, although it is unclear if large numbers of local officials will follow his directive.

In an administrative order Wednesday afternoon, Chief Justice Roy Moore, who has been a key antagonist of gay rights advocates, said a recent court ruling suggests it is not yet clear that the U. S. Supreme Court’s June decision legalizing same-sex marriage nationally applies in Alabama. Therefore, he wrote, “until further decision by the Alabama Supreme Court,” state laws banning same-sex marriage “remain in full force and effect.”

Read article