ALABAMA: Probate Judge Wants To Be Next Kim Davis

The next Kim Davis may be Alabama probate Judge Nick Williams, who has filed a motion with the state Supreme Court in which he demands the right not to officiate at same-sex weddings, which are a “license to engage in sodomy.” AL.com reports:

Williams filed the petition for declaratory judgment or protective order in light of the recent jailing of a Kentucky clerk for refusing to issue same-sex marriage licenses. “The jailing of Kentucky clerk Kimberly B. Davis put at immediate risk the liberty interest of all faithful and religiously sincere public officials in Alabama whose office has responsibility for making decisions as to whether to give sanction and honor to homosexual relationships to include the issuance of a license to engage in sodomy,” according to the petition filed on Williams’ behalf by Montgomery attorney Jack B. Hinton. Hinton said in an interview with AL.com that it is becoming more and more crucial that something be done to protect Williams and other Alabama probate judges who oppose issuing same-sex marriage licenses based on their religious beliefs. “Does he have to check his religious freedom at the door,” Hinton said. The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling “effectively criminalizes” judges for their religious beliefs, particularly those who took office long before gay marriage was legalized, Hinton said.

According to William, Alabama’s ban on same-sex marriage remains in effect and the Obergefell ruling is “utter fantasy.” More from his motion:

“Clerk Davis would not have been placed in that position had a bar majority of five justices on the United States Supreme Court not chose to substitute their own will as superior to the written United States Constitution, the will of the people as expressed in more than 36 state constitutions, and the common wisdom of our forebears in more than 220 years of American history, and millennia of our Anglo-Western heritage,” Williams’ petition states.

Read the full filing at Equality Case Files.

RELATED: There are no educational requirements to be a probate judge in Alabama. This is pretty much it: “Must have resided in the district which candidate seeks to represent for one year prior to election. No one may be elected or appointed to a judicial office after reaching the age of 70.” Williams claims to have a bachelor’s degree from Southwestern Assemblies of God University.