ALABAMA: Justice Roy Moore Tells State Officials Not To Issue Marriage Licenses

Via the Associated Press:

Alabama’s chief justice is telling probate judges that they are not required to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, despite a federal judge’s decision overturning the state’s gay marriage ban. Roy Moore sent a letter Tuesday to probate judges, saying the judge’s decision isn’t binding on them. Moore said a lower federal court can’t force the state to redefine marriage. U.S. District Judge Callie Granade’s order will go into effect Feb. 9 unless the U.S. Supreme Court grants a stay. Gay couples are expected to apply for marriage licenses statewide.

In response to the above, the Southern Poverty Law Center has filed an additional ethics charge against Moore.

Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore’s recent statement that he may not comply with a U.S. Supreme Court ruling should it legalize same-sex marriage is more proof that he is violating judicial ethics, according to a supplemental complaint the SPLC submitted today in its ongoing judicial ethics complaint against Moore. The supplement filed with the Judicial Inquiry Commission of Alabama includes Moore’s statements during a talk radio interview where he said it would be a “very hard decision” whether to follow such an order by the Supreme Court. The comments were made on The Matt Murphy Show on 1070 WAPI-AM radio in Birmingham on Thursday (read the transcript) – a day after the SPLC’s initial ethics complaint was filed.

Read the SPLC’s new complaint.

UPDATE: Like I am, many of you are likely banned from Moore’s Facebook page. But in case you are not.