ANNISTON – Marriage licenses for same-sex couples in Calhoun County will proceed on Wednesday. Calhoun County Probate Judge Alice Martin on Wednesday morning said a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court this week was the deciding factor to issue licenses to all applicants. 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 23.
Judge Martin said in a statement on Wednesday she wanted to receive an order with further instruction for probate judges across the state but never received one. “We have considered the Order issued by Justice Moore, which I have been compliant with, and the statements made by Governor Bentley relating to the order,” said Martin. On Monday, she said her office would follow an order from Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore that prohibits the issuance of marriage licenses that are inconsistent 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.
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.