U.S. District Court Judge Callie V.S. Granade, who struck down Alabama’s ban on gay marriage as unconstitutional, has scheduled a hearing that could determine whether Alabama probate judges must issue marriage licenses to gay couples.
Prof. Ronald Krotoszynski says ultimately Alabama probate judges will have to follow the federal court’s ruling.
“We’ll see same-sex marriage throughout the state,” Krotoszynski told Bloomberg. “That’s pretty much inevitable.”
Officials in some of the state’s 67 counties quickly issued marriage licenses, while others, including Mobile County Probate Judge Don Davis, refused. Attorneys have filed a legal challenge to order Davis to issue licenses.
The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to hear oral arguments on whether same-sex couples have the constitutional right to marry or whether states are allowed to ban gay marriage. A ruling is expected in June.
For more, read “Same-sex Marriage Divides Alabama As Top Judge Defies U.S. Court.”
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