Same-sex marriage in Alabama

Legal status of
same-sex relationships
Marriage
Performed

Argentina
Belgium
Brazil
Canada
Denmark:
· Denmark proper
Finland*
France
Iceland
Luxembourg
Mexico:
· CA, QR,
· DF
Netherlands:
· Netherlands proper1
New Zealand:
· New Zealand proper
Norway

Portugal
South Africa
Slovenia*
Spain
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United Kingdom:
· England and Wales
· Scotland
United States:
· AK, AZ, CA, CO, CT,
· DE, FL, HI, ID, IL, IN,
· IA, KS2, ME, MD, MA,
· MN, MO3, MT, NV, NH,
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Recognized

  1. Can be registered also in Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten
  2. Licensed in some counties in Kansas but same-sex marriage is not recognized by the state
  3. Only licensed in St. Louis (city), St. Louis County, & Jackson County (but only St. Louis (city) is required to).
  4. When performed in Mexican states that have legalized same-sex marriage
  5. Most counties in Alabama issued same-sex marriage licenses for several weeks after a federal court found that state's ban unconstitutional, but all stopped by 4 March 2015 following an order by the state supreme court
  6. Only if married in Michigan when same-sex marriage was legal

*Not yet in effect

LGBT portal

The legal status of same-sex marriage in Alabama is the subject of an ongoing legal battle.

Federal court orders in two cases took effect on February 9, 2015, and 47 of the state's 67 counties began issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples that day or shortly thereafter, despite an order from Alabama Supreme Court Chief Judge Roy Moore not to do so. The other counties either issued licenses only to opposite-sex couples or stopped issuing marriage licenses altogether. In both cases, a U.S. District Court had found the state's ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional. The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court had declined state officials' requests for a stay.

On March 3, 2015, the Alabama Supreme Court, ruling in a different case, ordered the state's probate judges to stop issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples, and they promptly complied, though a number of them refused to issue any marriage licenses at all. At least 545 same-sex couples married between February 9 and March 3.

Advocates for same-sex marriage rights responded with renewed efforts in federal court.

Previously, the state banned the licensing of same-sex marriages and the recognition of such marriages from other jurisdictions by executive order of the governor in 1996, by statute in 1998, and by constitutional amendment in 2006.

Restrictions

Executive order

On August 29, 1996, Governor Fob James issued an executive order banning same-sex marriage and recognition of same-sex marriages performed in other states or foreign countries.[1]

Statute

On April 9, 1998, the Alabama State House voted 79–12 in favor of a ban on same-sex marriage and recognition of same-sex marriages performed in other states or foreign countries. On April 13, 1998, the Alabama State Senate approved the bill in a 30–0 vote.[2] Governor Fob James signed it into law.

Constitution

On March 8, 2006, the Alabama State House voted 85–7 in favor of Amendment 774, a constitutional amendment to the Constitution of Alabama which bans same-sex marriage and a "union replicating marriage of or between persons of the same sex" in the state. On March 11, 2006, the Alabama State Senate approved the bill in a 30–0 vote.[3] On June 6, 2006, Alabama voters endorsed adding the amendment to the state's constitution with 81% voting in favor.[4]

Lawsuits

Aaron-Brush v. Bentley

A plaintiff couple filed suit on June 10, 2014, seeking recognition of their out-of-state marriage.[5] The due date for motions was set at July 31, 2015, to allow for action by the U.S. Supreme Court in other cases.

Hard v. Strange

On February 13, 2014, the Southern Poverty Law Center filed suit in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama on behalf of Paul Hard challenging the state's ban on same-sex marriage, both in its statutes and constitution. Hard and his late husband, David Fancher, Alabama natives, wed in Massachusetts on May 20, 2011. Fancher died in an accident on August 1. The suit, originally Hard v. Bentley, named the governor as principal defendant, as well as several other government officials.[6] Hard asked for a corrected death certificate and recognition as Fancher's surviving spouse, entitled to a share of the proceeds of a wrongful death suit filed by the administrator of Fancher's estate.[7][8] Fancher's mother, who opposed Hard's claims and was supported by Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore's Foundation for Moral Law, asked the district court for a ruling on her motion for summary judgement on February 5, 2015. On February 9, the Alabama Department of Public Health provided Hard a corrected death certificate.[9] On March 10, the court removed the governor as a defendant and stayed proceedings pending action by the U.S. Supreme Court in same-sex marriage cases on its docket.[10]

Searcy v. Strange

Plaintiffs filed a lawsuit, originally Searcy v. Bentley, on May 7, 2014, seeking recognition of their out-of-state marriage and step-parent adoption for their minor daughter. In mid-June, attorneys for the same-sex couple filed a motion for summary judgment; the state defendants filed a motion to dismiss.[11] On January 23, 2015, Judge Callie V.S. Granade[lower-alpha 1] of the U.S. District Court for Southern Alabama[lower-alpha 2] ruled that Alabama's refusal to license and recognize same-sex marriages is unconstitutional. She ordered the state Attorney General to stop enforcing those bans. The plaintiffs' attorneys hoped the state would comply, though other LGBT rights advocates anticipated further litigation. Legislative leaders denounced the ruling of "a single unelected and unaccountable federal judge" or saw the ruling as evidence that "traditional values espoused by Alabamians have begun to erode even in our conservative state."[13] Attorney General Luther Strange immediately asked for a stay of her ruling.[14] On January 25, the plaintiffs asked the court to clarify its order, describing the Probate Judges "like George Wallace at the schoolhouse door staring defiantly upon this Court's order". They cited at length a 1970 ruling involving the same group of government officials that had ended enforcement of Alabama's anti-miscegenation statute, United States v. Brittain, which extended a ruling from one inter-racial couple who sought a marriage license and "requir[ed] the Attorney General of the State of Alabama to advise the Judges of Probate of the several counties of Alabama" to cease enforcement of an invalid law.[15] On January 25, Judge Granade stayed her ruling for 14 days to allow Strange to seek a longer stay from the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals.[16]

On January 26, Attorney General Strange filed notice of appeal in the Eleventh Circuit[17] and asked for a stay of the district court's ruling pending appeal.[18] The Governor and the Probate Judges Association filed amicus briefs in support of his request.

On January 28, Judge Granade clarified her order, quoting at length from Judge Robert Hinkle's warning in the Florida case Brenner v. Scott that those who fail to comply will bear the costs of additional suits that will produce the same result and, still quoting Hinkle: "There should be no debate ... on the question of whether a [state official] may follow the ruling, even for marriage-license applicants who are not parties to this case."[19]

Strawser v. Strange

On January 27, 2015, Judge Granade ruled in favor of a male couple seeking the right to marry on Alabama. She stayed her ruling temporarily, setting the stay to expire on February 9 with her stay in Searcy.[20] A male couple, James N. Strawser and John E. Humphrey had filed their suit in September 2014 without assistance of counsel after being denied a marriage license at the Mobile County Courthouse in July. At a half-hour hearing before Judge Granade on December 18, 2014, each of them testified and Strawser questioned their only other witness, Bishop David M. Carnrike, a minister of the United Gospel Holiness Church of America and presiding bishop of the Staff of Life Church Conference, who had married them on August 16. James W. Davis of the Attorney General's office cross-examined all three.[21] On January 29, the National Center for Lesbian Rights took on the plaintiffs' representation.

Reaction to Searcy and Strawser rulings

The Alabama Probate Judges Association issued a statement on January 24 that said "There is nothing in the judge's order [in Searcy] that requires probate judges in Alabama to issue marriage licenses to same sex couples".[22] The next day, the editorial board of AL.com[lower-alpha 3] called on the governor and state legislators to end their opposition to same-sex marriage.[24] On January 27, the Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court, Roy Moore, released a letter addressed to Governor Robert J. Bentley, in which he said that:[25]

Our State Constitution and our morality are under attack by a federal court decision that has no basis in the Constitution of the United States. Nothing in the United States Constitution grants to the federal government the authority to desecrate the institution of marriage.

He welcomed the recent letter from the Probate Judges Association and warned any judge who might issue a marriage license to a same-sex couple that "the issuance of such licenses would be in defiance of the laws and Constitution of Alabama." Saying that his court was not bound by U.S. District Court rulings, he wrote the governor: "Be advised that I stand with you to stop judicial tyranny and any unlawful opinions issue without constitutional authority." The governor responded that: "The people of Alabama voted in a constitutional amendment to define marriage as being between man and woman. As governor, I must uphold the Constitution. I am disappointed in Friday’s ruling, and I will continue to oppose this ruling. The Federal government must not infringe on the rights of states."[26]

Once Judge Granade clarified her order on January 28, the Probate Judges Association acknowledged that her order in Searcy, if lifted, requires them to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples and said it would encourage its members to comply.[27][28]

On February 3, the Eleventh Circuit rejected Strange's request to extend Judge Granade's stay and consolidated the appeals in Searcy and Strawser.[29] Strange immediately asked Justice Clarence Thomas, Circuit Judge for the Eleventh Circuit, to extend the stay.[30] On February 4, the Eleventh Circuit suspended proceedings in the appeal pending action by the U.S. Supreme Court in same-sex marriage cases it has accepted for review.

On February 5, the Alabama Department of Public Health provided the state's probate courts with a revised marriage license application form that replaced the terms bride and groom with spouse and spouse.[31]

Moore sent an order to probate judges and state employees late on February 8, the day before Granade's order was set to take effect, threatening legal action by the governor against anyone who complied with her order.[32][33]

Granade's orders take effect

Granade's orders in Searcy and Strawser took effect on February 9. Just as state offices were opening that morning, the U.S. Supreme Court declined the state's request for a stay, with Justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas dissenting.[34] Nine counties issued marriage licenses to same-sex couples that day (Chilton, Coffee, Crenshaw, Etowah, Fayette, Jefferson, Lowndes, Madison, and Montgomery).[35] The first couple to marry were Tori Sisson and Shanté Wolfe in Montgomery.[36] The Searcy plaintiffs re-filed the adoption petition that had been the basis of their lawsuit on February 9 as well.[37]

That morning, Attorney General Strange issued a statement in response to the Supreme Court's action disclaiming responsibility for the issuing of marriage licenses and advising probate judges to consult their own legal counsel.[38] That afternoon, Governor Robert J. Bentley announced he agreed with Moore's statement and Thomas' dissent, but would take no action against any probate judge based on the issuance of marriage licenses to same-sex couples.[39] Also that afternoon, the Searcy plaintiffs asked the district court to hold Don Davis, Probate Judge for Mobile County, in contempt for failing to open his marriage license division that day.[40] The court denied that motion later that day because Davis was not a party to the Searcy lawsuit.[41]

Republican U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions commented on February 9: "I think it's an unhealthy trend that judges feel that they're somehow reflecting popular opinion when first of all, it's not popular opinion, and secondly, who are they to be ruling on cases based on how they feel."[42]

Hedgepeth v. Davis

Late on February 9, the attorneys in Searcy filed a new lawsuit, Hedgepeth v. Davis, on behalf of eight couples denied marriage licenses in Mobile County on February 9. They named as defendants Davis and two of his staff, Governor Bentley, Attorney General Strange, and Chief Justice Moore. They sought an emergency injunction and sanctions.[43] Davis asked the Alabama Supreme Court for further instruction in light of the U.S. Supreme Court's action and the contempt motion filed in Searcy, which had already been dismissed,[44] a request the court rejected on February 11, calling it a request for an advisory opinion which the court is only authorized to give to the governor or legislature.[45] The district court denied the Hedgepeth plaintiffs immediate relief for procedural reasons, but invited their attorneys to participate in the February 12 hearing in Strawser.[46] After Mobile County began issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples, the plaintiifs agreed to remove county officials as defendants, leaving only Strange and Moore. On March 24, having obtained marriage licenses, they that their suit be dismissed.

Further proceedings in Strawser

Ending the first day of legal same-sex marriage in Alabama, the Strawser plaintiffs, whose pro se suit had originally named only the attorney general as defendant after they had been denied a marriage license in Mobile County, amended their suit to add Davis as a defendant and add three other same-sex couples seeking marriage licenses from Mobile County as plaintiffs. They also asked for a temporary restraining order or injunction preventing the defendants from enforcing Alabama's same-sex marriage ban and, for the first time in this case, sought attorney's fees.[47] The court added the new parties the next day and scheduled a hearing on the injunction for February 12.[48] After the hearing, Granade issued an injunction against Davis, ordering the probate judge to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples,[49] and Mobile County issued marriage licenses to same-sex couples that afternoon.[50] On February 16, Jefferson County Probate Judge Alan King, one of the four probate judges named in the Alabama Policy Institute lawsuit in state court, asked the district court to allow him to intervene as a defendant in Strawser. He told the court that in that other suit the Alabama Policy Institute and the Alabama Citizens Action Program "acting in concert with and on behalf of the State of Alabama, are improperly attempting to seek further stay of this Court's prior Orders" from the Alabama Supreme Court.[51] On February 17, the Strawser plaintiffs asked the district court to enforce its order by requiring Attorney General Strange to prevent the private parties' suit in Alabama Supreme Court from proceeding, contending that Strange has the authority to have the suit dismissed and that the court's order extends through the Attorney General to such private parties who seek to frustrate the court's order.[52] Judge King made a similar motion.[53] In response, Strange argued that he lacked such authority over private parties, that the plaintiffs had already received the relief for which they brought suit in the first place, and that the court's order did not require any action on the part of probate judges not named as defendants in Strawser.[54]

On February 20, Judge Granade denied King's request to intervene because he "does not seem to have an interest in the subject matter of this action".[55] She also denied the plaintiffs request that she order Strange to have the litigation initiated by private parties in the Alabama Supreme Court dismissed. She said the plaintiffs had not demonstrated they required further relief nor shown a link between the relief plaintiffs in this case had already received and the state court suit, whatever its outcome.[56]

Alabama Policy Institute lawsuit

On February 11, two conservative groups, the Alabama Policy Institute and the Alabama Citizens Action Program, filed a lawsuit asking the Alabama Supreme Court to order the state's probate judges to deny marriage licenses to same-sex couples.[57][lower-alpha 4] The suit targeted all the state's probate judges, but identified only four of them by name. On February 13, Equality Alabama filed an amicus brief asking the Alabama Supreme Court to dismiss the Alabama Policy Institute's lawsuit. It argued that the plaintiffs had not demonstrated a specific injury they had suffered and were seeking improperly to assume the role of state officials.[58] The Court gave the four named defendants until February 18 to file briefs, allowing the plaintiffs until 10 am February 23 to respond. One defendant, Judge Davis, argued that the lawsuit assumed no probate judge was subject to Granade's orders and could not apply to him now that he was a defendant in Strawser.[59] Judges Alan King and Tommy Ragland offered arguments much like those of Equality Alabama.[60] On March 3, the court ruled in a 7 to 1 decision that the plaintiffs had standing and that Alabama's ban on same-sex marriage does not violate the U.S. Constitution. It ordered all probate judges to conform to Alabama law and deny marriage licenses to same-sex couples.[61] The court asked Judge Davis, since he was subject to Granade's orders, to explain by March 5 whether he was required to issue licenses to same-sex couples in addition to those he had already issued to the Strawser plaintiffs as required by the federal court. On that date, Davis asked the court for additional 10 days to respond.[62] On March 11, the court rejected Davis' request for an extension and ordered him not to issue any additional marriage licenses to same-sex couples.[63]

Following the Alabama Supreme Court's order of March 3, Judge Davis kept Mobile County's marriage license bureau closed.[64] On March 18, Probate Judge Steven Reed of Montgomery County asked the court to amend its order so that it becomes ineffective if the U.S. Supreme Court rules that a state ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional.[65] The court denied his request on March 23 without comment.[66]

According to the Alabama Department of Public Health, at least 545 same-sex couples obtained marriage licenses and wed between February 9 and March 3.[67]

Searcy v. Davis

On February 24, 2015, Cari Searcy asked the District Court for an injunction against Probate Judge Don Davis who had issued an initial adoption decree as ordered in Searcy v. Strange but added language stating "that this Decree is qualified in nature, and the Court will not issue a final adoption order until a final ruling is issued in the United States Supreme Court on the Marriage Act cases before it."[68] On March 24, she told the court that Davis had removed the language in question and asked the court to dismiss her suit.[69]

More proceedings in Strawser

On March 6, Davis asked the federal court to stay its order in Strawser, arguing that he had fulfilled its specific requirements by issuing licenses to the plaintiffs and that he could only comply with the Alabama Supreme Court's order if this court did add more plaintiff same-sex couples and require him to issue them marriage licenses. He noted that he had taken no public position on the underlying legal question of the constitutionality of Alabama's denial of marriage rights to same-sex couples and described his "unprecedented, historic and yet difficult position" when subject to conflicting orders from the federal and state courts.[70] Judge Granade immediately asked the plaintiffs to reply to Davis' request by March 13.[71]

Later on March 6, just as Davis had anticipated, the Strawser plaintiffs asked Judge Granade to add plaintiffs and defendants to Strawser and to certify the suit as a class action. They named three more couples as plaintiffs "individually and on behalf of other similarly situated persons". Those couples had each been denied marriage licenses in two counties. They added Tim Russell, Probate Judge of Baldwin County, "as representative of a Defendant Class of similarly situated probate judges in the State of Alabama" along with Davis. As counsel for the plaintiffs, they said the National Center for Lesbian Rights was now joined by the Southern Poverty Law Center, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and the American Civil Liberties Union of Alabama.[72][73] The court gave Judge Davis until March 17 to respond.

On March 13, Madison County Circuit Judge Karen Hall granted a divorce to a lesbian couple who wed in Iowa in November 2012. They had requested the divorce on February 9 after having been denied a divorce by the same judge a year earlier.[74]

On March 16, Judge Granade denied Davis' request that she stay her order in Strawser[75] and the next day gave him until March 23 to respond to the plaintiffs' request to add parties and certify the case as a class action.[76] He responded that same day, and on March 18 Judge Granade accepted the additional parties to the suit. To the attorney general's objection that the lawsuit was too far advanced, she wrote that "the licences [obtained by the plaintiifs] are of little value if they are not recognized as valid in Alabama".[77] On April 23, she denied the Attorney General's motion to dismiss. She found that Strange was an appropriate defendant in that he has defended the state's ban in court and, in a different case, said he "maintains enforcement authority" over their application by all levels of government in the state, and because the plaintiffs seek the rights of marriage, not just marriage licenses.[78]

Counties issuing licenses

Counties issuing marriage licenses on about February 18, approximately the date of maximum availability
     Counties that issued marriage licenses to all couples
     Counties that issued marriage licenses to opposite-sex couples only
     Counties that had stopped issuing marriage licenses
Question marks indicate conflicting reports. Exes mark counties that had issued licenses sometime in the week before this date.

By February 18, 2015, 49 of Alabama's 67 counties had started issuing same-sex marriage licenses, as follows:[79][80]

Counties that issued same-sex marriage licenses
47 counties, 82% of residents (2 others had stopped by this date)
Autauga, Baldwin, Barbour, Blount, Bullock, Butler, Calhoun, Cherokee, Chilton, Coffee, Colbert, Conecuh, Coosa, Crenshaw, Cullman, Dale, Dallas, DeKalb, Etowah, Fayette, Franklin, Greene, Hale, Henry, Jackson, Jefferson, Lamar, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Lee, Limestone, Lowndes, Macon, Madison, Mobile, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Perry, Russell, St. Clair, Sumter, Talladega, Tallapoosa,[81] Tuscaloosa, Wilcox, Winston
Counties that issued marriage licenses to opposite-sex couples only
ca. 11 counties, 10% of residents
Chambers, Clay (will not issue unless ordered to directly),[82] Cleburne (will not issue unless ordered to directly),[83] Covington, Elmore (issued, then stopped),[84] Escambia (issued, then stopped),[80] Marengo, Marion (scheduled, changed mind),[85] Pickens (scheduled to start Feb. 16), Shelby (will not issue unless ordered to directly)[86] Washington (awaiting US Supreme Court)[87]
Counties that had stopped issuing all marriage licenses
ca. 9 counties, 8% of residents
Bibb (no decision can be made while judge out sick),[88] Choctaw,[89] Clarke, Geneva,[90] Houston,[91] Marshall (scheduled, changed mind),[92] Pike, Randolph, Walker

Some general reports indicated that Choctaw and Houston counties might be issuing licenses to opposite-sex couples only,[79] but local reports in Houston were that it has instead stopped all licensing.[91][93][94] Pickens had been scheduled to start issuing same-sex licenses on Feb 16, but it was neither reported to have actually started issuing licenses, nor included among the counties (Marion, Marshall) that had similarly scheduled but reversed their decision.

Counties stop issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples

Counties issuing marriage licenses on about March 4, after the state supreme court decision.

On March 3, 2015, the Alabama Supreme Court ordered all probate judges in the state to stop issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.[95] By the afternoon of the next day, all or nearly all counties[lower-alpha 5] stopped issuing such licenses. Autauga, Macon, Mobile,[97] and Talladega stopped issuing licenses to all couples. Choctaw and Geneva, which had earlier issued no licenses, started issuing licenses to opposite-sex couples, while Bibb, Clarke, Houston, Marshall, Pike, Randolph, and Walker continued in not issuing licenses to any couples.[79]

Public opinion

Public opinion for same-sex marriage in Alabama
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size		 Margin of
error		 % support % opposition % no opinion
New York Times/CBS News/YouGov September 20 – October 1, 2014 692 likely voters ± 2.6% 28% 60% 12%
Mobile Register-University of South Alabama March 2004 421 residents ± ?% – 80% –

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Judge Granade is the granddaughter of Judge Richard Rives who, in 1956, wrote the opinion in Browder v. Gayle that found racial segregation of Montgomery’s bus system unconstitutional.[12]
  2. ↑ The United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama covers the following 13 counties: Baldwin, Choctaw, Clarke, Conecuh, Dallas, Escambia, Hale, Marengo, Mobile, Monroe, Perry, Washington, and Wilcox.
  3. ↑ AL.com is jointly published by three newspapers: the Birmingham News, Huntsville Times, and Mobile's Press-Register.[23]
  4. ↑ The case has been referred to as Ex parte State ex rel. Alabama Policy Institute and Alabama Citizens Action Program v. King and State v. King.
  5. ↑ One source reports that of March 4, Macon County was still issuing licenses. It is possible that this was true in the morning, and that Macon had stopped issuing all licenses by the afternoon, as other sources reported.[96]

References

  1. ↑ "Governor Declares Same-Sex Marriages Illegal in Alabama". AP. August 30, 1996. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Same-sex marriages banned in Alabama". Tuscaloosa News. April 27, 1998. Retrieved January 24, 2015.
  3. ↑ "National Briefing | South: Alabama: Same-Sex Marriage Ban Advances". Alabama: New York Times. March 11, 2005. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
  4. ↑ Baptist Press: Michael Foust, "Ala. becomes 20th state to pass marriage amendment," June 7, 2006, accessed July 5, 2011
  5. ↑ Marshall, Randall; Crew, Wendy; et. al., (Attorneys for the Plaintiffs) (June 10, 2014). "Complaint, Aaron-Brush v. Bentley" (PDF). U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama. ACLU.org. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  6. ↑ Gates, Verna (February 13, 2014). "Lawsuit challenges Alabama's ban on gay marriage". Reuters. Retrieved February 14, 2014.
  7. ↑ Polaski, Adam (February 13, 2014). "Southern Poverty Law Center files federal marriage lawsuit in Alabama". Freedom to Marry. Retrieved February 14, 2014.
  8. ↑ "SPLC challenges Alabama’s unconstitutional Marriage Protection Act and Sanctity of Marriage Amendment". Southern Poverty Law Center. February 13, 2014. Retrieved February 14, 2014.
  9. ↑ Lyman, brian (February 9, 2015). "Alabama same-sex couples marry as legal battle rages". Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved February 9, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Memorandum Opinion and Order". Scribd.com. U.S. District Court for Middle Alabama. Retrieved March 10, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Complaint, Searcy v. Bentley, No. 1:14-cv-208" (PDF). freemarry.3cdn.net. PACER Document 1. May 7, 2014.
  12. ↑ Davidson, Amy (February 9, 2015). "The Moment for Marriage in Alabama". The New Yorker. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  13. ↑ Snow, Justin (January 23, 2015). "Federal judge strikes down Alabama same-sex marriage ban". Metro Weekly. Retrieved January 23, 2015.
  14. ↑ "Alabama Seeks to Stay Order Overturning Gay Marriage Ban". New York Times. Associated Press. January 24, 2015. Retrieved January 24, 2015.
  15. ↑ "Plaintiffs' Objection and Response to Defendants Motion to Stay". Scribd.com. U.S. District Court for Southern Alabama. Retrieved January 25, 2015.
  16. ↑ "Order granting 14 day stay". Scribd.com. U.S. District Court for Southern Alabama. Retrieved January 25, 2015.
  17. ↑ Reeves, Jay (January 26, 2015). "Alabama Appeals Decision Blocking Ban on Same-Sex Marriage". ABC News. Associated Press. Retrieved January 26, 2015.
  18. ↑ "Alabama Motion for Stay Pending Appeal". Scribd.com. Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. Retrieved January 26, 2015.
  19. ↑ "Order Clarifying Judgment". Scribd.com. U.S. District Court for Southern Alabama. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
  20. ↑ Kirby, Brendan (January 27, 2015). "Second Alabama gay couple wins same-sex marriage challenge". AL.com. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
  21. ↑ "Transcript of Hearing on preliminary injunction". Scribd.com. U.S> District Court for Southern Alabama. Retrieved February 4, 2015.
  22. ↑ Gray, Jeremy (January 25, 2015). "Alabama probate judge association: 'We cannot issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples'". AL.com. Retrieved January 25, 2015.
  23. ↑ "About us". AL.com. Retrieved January 26, 2015.
  24. ↑ "Our view: It is time to afford Alabama's gay men and women their equal and unalienable rights". AL.com. January 25, 2015. Retrieved January 26, 2015.
  25. ↑ "Letter of Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy S. Moore to Governor Robert Bentley, January 27, 2015". Scribd.com. Equality Case Files. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
  26. ↑ Snow, Justin (January 27, 2015). "Alabama chief justice vows to fight marriage-equality ruling". Metro Weekly. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
  27. ↑ Kirby, Brendan (January 28, 2015). "Alabama probate judges' group agrees decision voiding same-sex marriage ban applies to them". AL.com. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
  28. ↑ "Order Clarifying Judgment" (PDF).
  29. ↑ "Stay Denied". Scribd.com. Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. Retrieved February 3, 2015.
  30. ↑ Denniston, Lyle (February 4, 2015). "Alabama seeks same-sex marriage delay". SCOTUSblog. Retrieved February 5, 2015.
  31. ↑ "ADPH issues new marriage certificates following court decisions". Montgomery Advertiser. February 5, 2015. Retrieved February 5, 2015.
  32. ↑ "Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore orders judges not to issue same-sex marriage licenses". AL.com. February 8, 2015. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
  33. ↑ "Roy Moore Order to Alabama Probate Judges". Scribd.com. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
  34. ↑ Geidner, Chris (February 9, 2015). "U.S. Supreme Court Denies Stay In Alabama Same-Sex Marriage Case". BuzzFeed News. Retrieved February 9, 2015.
  35. ↑ Somashekhar, Sandhya (February 9, 2015). "Judicial defiance in Alabama: Same-sex marriages begin, but most counties refuse". Washington Post. Retrieved February 16, 2015.
  36. ↑ Karlan, Sarah (February 9, 2015). "The Love Story Behind Alabama’s First Legally Married Same-Sex Couple". BuzzFeed News. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  37. ↑ Kirby, Brendan (February 9, 2015). "No marriages in Mobile on Monday; probate judge seeks 'clarification' from Alabama high court". AL.com. Retrieved February 9, 2015.
  38. ↑ "Statement in Response". Office of the Attorney General. Retrieved February 9, 2015.
  39. ↑ "Governor Bentley Issues Statement on Issuance of Same Sex Marriage Licenses". Office of the Governor. Retrieved February 9, 2015.
  40. ↑ "Motion for Contempt". Scribd.com. U.S. District Court for Southern Alabama. Retrieved February 9, 2015.
  41. ↑ "Order denying plaintiffs' motion". Scribd.com. U.S. District Court for Southern Alabama. Retrieved February 9, 2015.
  42. ↑ Lesniewski, Niels (February 9, 2015). "Sessions Blasts ‘Activist Judiciary’ on Gay Marriage in Alabama". Roll Call. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  43. ↑ "Complaint and request for immediate injunctive relief". U.S. District Court for Southern Alabama. Retrieved February 9, 2015.
  44. ↑ Tillman, Zoe (February 10, 2015). "Clash Over Alabama Gay Marriage Licenses Heads to Court". National Law Journal. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  45. ↑ "Order Ex Parte Don Davis". Alabama Judicial System. Retrieved February 11, 2015.
  46. ↑ "Order". Scribd.com. U.S. District Court for Southern Alabama. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  47. ↑ "Plaintiffs' Emergency Motion". Scribd.com. U.S. District Court for Southern Alabama. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  48. ↑ "Order". Scribd.com. U.S. District Court for Southern Alabama. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  49. ↑ "Order". Scribd.com. U.S. District Court for Southern Alabama. Retrieved February 12, 2015.
  50. ↑ Toner, Casey (February 12, 2015). "Gay marriage begins in Mobile (finally)". AL.com. Retrieved February 12, 2015.
  51. ↑ "Jefferson County Probate Judge Alan King's motion to intervene". Scribd.com. U.S. District Court for Southern Alabama. Retrieved February 16, 2015.
  52. ↑ "Plaintiffs' Emergency Motion for Enforcement of Injunction". Scribd.com. U.S. District Court for Southern Alabama. Retrieved February 17, 2015.
  53. ↑ "Proposed Intervenor King's Motion for Preliminary Injunction". Scribd,com. U.S. District Court for Southern Alabama. Retrieved February 17, 2015.
  54. ↑ "Attorney General's Opposition to Plaintiffs Motion for Enforcement". Scribd.com. U.S. District Court for Southern Alabama. Retrieved February 17, 2015.
  55. ↑ "Order Denying Jefferson County Probate Judge Alan King's motion to intervene". Scribd.com. U.S. District Court for Southern Alabama. Retrieved February 20, 2015.
  56. ↑ "Order denying Plaintiffs' motion for enforcement of injunction". Scribd.com. U.S. District Court for Southern Alabama. Retrieved February 20, 2015.
  57. ↑ "Groups ask Alabama Supreme Court to stop gay weddings". Washington Post. Associated Press. February 11, 2015. Retrieved February 13, 2015.
  58. ↑ "Brief of Amicus Curiae Equality Alabama" (PDF). Retrieved February 13, 2015.
  59. ↑ "Response of Judge Don Davis". Scribd.com. Alabama Supreme Court. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
  60. ↑ "Respondents King and Ragland's Joint Answer". Alabama Supreme Court. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
  61. ↑ Robertson, Campbell (March 3, 2015). "Alabama Court Orders a Halt to Same-Sex Marriage Licenses". New York Times. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
  62. ↑ "ODavis Brief in support of motion to extend deadline". Scribd.com. Alabama Supreme Court. Retrieved March 7, 2015.
  63. ↑ "Order enjoining Davis". Scribd.com. Alabama Supreme Court. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  64. ↑ Geidner, Chris (March 17, 2015). "Alabama Probate Judge Faces Conflicting Commands In Same-Sex Marriage Cases". BuzzFeed News. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
  65. ↑ "Application for Rehearing". Scribd.com. Alabama Supreme Court. March 18, 2015. Retrieved March 18, 2015.
  66. ↑ "Order denying Judge Reed's application for rehearing". Scribd.com. Alabama Supreme Court. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  67. ↑ "More than 500 same-sex couples married in Alabama". Decatur Daily. Associated Press. April 9, 2015. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
  68. ↑ "Complaint and Request for Preliminary and Permanent Injunctive Relief". Scribd.com. U.S> District Court for Southern Alabama. Retrieved February 25, 2015.
  69. ↑ "Motion to Dismiss". Scribd.com. U.S. District Court for Southern Alabama. Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  70. ↑ "Don Davis Emergency Motion for Stay". Scribd.com. U.S. District Court for Southern Alabama. Retrieved March 7, 2015.
  71. ↑ "Order: Plaintiffs to file response to motion for stay by Friday, March 13, 2015". Scribd.com. U.S. District Court for Southern Alabama. Retrieved March 7, 2015.
  72. ↑ "Second Motion to Amend Complaint". Scribd.com. U.S. District Court for Southern Alabama. Retrieved March 7, 2015.
  73. ↑ Geidner, Chris (March 6, 2015). "LGBT Legal Groups Seeks Statewide Ruling In Alabama’s Federal Court Marriage Case". BuzzFeed News. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  74. ↑ "With Gay Marriage on Hold, Alabama Judge OKs Lesbian Divorce". New York Times. Associated Press. March 13, 2015. Retrieved March 13, 2015.
  75. ↑ "Order Denying Davis's Motion to Stay February 12 preliminary injunction order". Scribd.com. U.S. District Court for Southern Alabama. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  76. ↑ "Order setting deadline for Attorney General to respond". Scribd.com. U.S. District Court for Southern Alabama. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
  77. ↑ "Order". Scribd.com. U.S. District Court for Southern Alabama. March 28, 2015. Retrieved March 18, 2015.
  78. ↑ "Order". Scribd.com. U.S. District Court for Southern Alabama. April 24, 2015. Retrieved April 24, 2015.
  79. ↑ 79.0 79.1 79.2 "#ALMarriage: County Information". Freedom to Marry. February 17, 2015. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
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  81. ↑
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  86. ↑
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  89. ↑
  90. ↑
  91. ↑ 91.0 91.1
  92. ↑
  93. ↑
  94. ↑
  95. ↑ Robertson, Campbell (March 3, 2015). "Alabama Court Orders a Halt to Same-Sex Marriage Licenses". New York Times. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
  96. ↑
  97. ↑

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