ANNISTON – Marriage licenses for same-sex couples in Calhoun County remain on hold Tuesday while a court battle continues in south Alabama. An additional 15 Alabama probate judges began issuing same-sex marriage licenses on Tuesday, according to civil rights group Equality Alabama, bringing the total number of judges accepting the licenses across the state to 22.
Calhoun County Probate Judge Alice Martin on Monday said her office will follow an order from Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore that prohibits the issuance of marriage licenses that are inconsistant with law ruled unconstitutional by a federal judge last month. Staff at the probate judge’s office on Tuesday said Martin was in conference calls regarding the issue throughout the day. Attempts to speak with Martin for comment on Tuesday were unsuccessful.
U.S. District Judge Ginny Granade on Tuesday added four plaintiffs and one defendant to the lawsuit that resulted in the reversal of Alabama’s ban on same-sex marriage last month. Granade has set a Thursday hearing for the plaintiffs’ motion to order Mobile County Probate Judge Don Davis to begin issuing licenses to same-sex couples.
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