June 22, 2016
Alabama Justice Denies Telling Judges to Block Gay Marriages
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MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore is asking a state judicial panel to dismiss ethics charges against him, saying he never told probate judges to refuse marriage licenses to gay couples.
Moore on Tuesday filed his response to accusations that he violated judicial ethics with a 2016 administrative order, six months after the U.S. Supreme Court effectively legalized same-sex marriage.
His lawyers wrote that the order only noted correctly that a state court injunction to refuse same-sex marriage licenses had not been lifted.
Moore could face removal from office over the charges.
The charges against him are among three scandals facing top Republicans in Alabama.
Former House Speaker Mike Hubbard was recently convicted on ethics charges. Gov. Robert Bentley has faced calls for impeachment after a sex-tinged scandal.
