Alabama May Soon Gain Clarity on Gay Marriage

“After days of judicial confusion, some clarity may come on Thursday to Alabama’s approach to same-sex marriage, as a federal judge considers whether to compel a probate judge here to issue marriage licenses to gay couples,” the New York Times reports.

“While a ruling would pertain only to the probate judge in Mobile County, it would send a signal to judges statewide, who are caught between a federal ruling that lifts the state ban on same-sex marriage and an order from the State Supreme Court chief justice to ignore the ruling. For now, probate judges in 23 of Alabama’s 67 counties are issuing marriage licenses to gay couples. Licenses are being handed out only to straight couples in 18 counties, and no marriage licenses at all are being issued in 26 counties.”

Meanwhile, The Hill reports that Alabama Supreme Court’s chief justice “is ready to go to war with the Supreme Court, if the high court rules in favor of same-sex marriage, asserting that the potential ruling could be as damaging as historical decisions that set back racial equality.”