Federal Judge Rules Alabama Probate Judges Must Issue Marriage Licenses for All Couples
United States District Judge Ginny Granade ruled today that Alabama probate judges issuing marriage licenses must do so for all couples. Granade instructed all magistrate judges to immediately comply with her orders. Granade stated that all magistrate judges are bound by and must comply with the United States Supreme Court's ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges, which grants marriage equality to all citizens regardless of sexual orientation.
Granade's ruling will immediately affect all Alabama counties. The Associated Press (via al.com) reports that 22 counties within the state are currently issuing marriage licenses to heterosexual couples only. As of this morning, the office of Tuscaloosa County Probate Judge Hardy McCollum was not issuing marriage licenses to same sex couples (via Montgomery Observer).
The Southern Poverty Law Center posted Granade's full order to Facebook this morning.
Y'all means all, Alabama. BREAKING: The Federal judge in Alabama marriage cases orders all magistrate judges to immediately comply with her orders, and the SCOTUS decision in #Obergefell.
Posted by Southern Poverty Law Center on Wednesday, July 1, 2015