Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore has issued an order to probate judges banning them from issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
"Effective immediately, no probate judge of the State of Alabama nor any agent or employee of any Alabama Probate Judge shall issue or recognize a marriage license that is inconsistent with Article 1, Section 36.03, of the Alabama Constitution or S 30-1-19, Ala. Code 1975," Moore said in the order.
Moore called on Governor Robert Bentley to "ensure the execution of the law" should any probate judge disobey his order, according to court documents.
U.S. Circuit Judge Callie V.S. Granade declared the same sections of Alabama law, which bans same-sex marriage, unconstitutional on Jan. 23.
The order striking down the law was set to go into effect Monday, Feb. 9.
The Human Rights Campaign, a group working to legalize same-sex marriage across the United States, issued a statement condemning Moore's order.
"This is a pathetic, last-ditch attempt at judicial fiat by an Alabama Supreme Court justice -- a man who should respect the rule of law rather than advance his personal beliefs," said Sarah Warbelow, legal director for HRC. "Absent further action by the U.S. Supreme Court, the federal ruling striking down Alabama's marriage ban ought to be fully enforced."
Moore has been in office since January 2013, but previously served as chief justice from 2001-03, when he was removed from office for refusing a federal court order to remove a monument of the Ten Commandments from the Alabama Supreme Court.
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