This morning, the SCOTUS denied Alabama AG's motion to stay pending appeal of the marriage equality ruling(s) in that state. Justices Scalia and Thomas (again) dissented. Congratulations Alabama!
You can read the entire order at the link in the Equality Case Files link below.
Justice Thomas has the sadz:
Today’s decision represents yet another example of this Court’s increasingly cavalier attitude toward the States. Over the past few months, the Court has repeatedly denied stays of lower court judgments enjoining the enforcement of state laws on questionable constitutional grounds. It has similarly declined to grant certiorari to review such judgments without any regard for the people who approved those laws in popular referendums or elected the representatives who voted for them. In this case, the Court refuses even to grant a temporary stay when it will resolve the issue at hand in several months. I respectfully dissent from the denial of this application. I would have shown the people of Alabama the respect they deserve and preserved the status quo while the Court resolves this important constitutional question.
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JMG
UPDATE 1:
There seems to be a bit of excitement in Birmingham:
UPDATE 2:
Plaintiffs' attorneys ask federal judge to hold Mobile Judge Don Davis in contempt of court.
UPDATE 3:
Defiant statement from Brian Brown of NOM:
"A majority of the Supreme Court has cast disrepute on the impartiality of the Court by refusing to follow previous protocol and issue a stay of a lower court ruling while it is being considered by the Court. The issues in play are currently under review by the Supreme Court, and allowing a lower court ruling that overturns a state marriage amendment adopted by over 80% of voters is reckless and undermines the integrity of the Court. We call on the people of Alabama to continue to enforce their state marriage laws. A single federal judge does not have the authority to overturn a state marriage amendment and the people of Alabama should refuse to go along with this order. We commend Alabama Supreme Court Justice Ray Moore for ordering state probate judges, who are responsible for issuing marriage licenses, to enforce state law limiting marriage to one man and one woman and to refuse to issue licenses that violate state law. These probate judges have sworn an oath to the people of Alabama and they must honor their oath to the people they serve." - Hate group leader Brian Brown, via press release.
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JMG