Video: Court Clears The Way For Same-Sex Marriage In Alabama, State To Appeal

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MONTGOMERY, Alabama (AP) – A federal appeals court order has cleared the way for same-sex marriages to begin next week in Alabama, with the panel refusing to stay a decision overturning the state’s ban.

On Tuesday, the three-judge panel from the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals denied Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange’s request for the stay.

U.S. District Judge Callie Granade last month ruled that two Alabama laws prohibiting the recognition of same-sex marriages unconstitutional. Granade put a hold on her order until Monday to let the state appeal.

David Kennedy, a lawyer for a Mobile couple who challenged the ban, has asked Granade to lift the stay immediately instead of waiting.

Strange’s office didn’t immediately comment. Strange had sought to keep Granade’s order on hold until the U.S. Supreme Court takes up the issue.

***Press Release***

MONTGOMERY–Governor Robert Bentley on Tuesday released a statement on the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision Tuesday to deny a stay of the U.S. District Court’s ruling on Friday, January 23, 2015, regarding Alabama’s ban on same-sex marriage. The Governor’s statement is below.

“I am disappointed by the 11th Circuit’s decision today. The issue of same sex marriage is a complicated one that involves all levels of government. My request to the 11th Circuit was simply to ask that the stay be held until the Supreme Court can rule once and for all this year or pending the fully briefed 11th Circuit appeal of the issue. I support the Attorney General’s decision to ask the U.S. Supreme Court for a stay of the 11th Circuit’s decision.”

***Press Release***

(MONTGOMERY) – Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange has filed a motion asking the U.S. Supreme Court to stay the January 23, 2015, U.S. District Court ruling striking down Alabama’s same-sex marriage ban. The move follows the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision Tuesday not to grant a stay of the U.S. District Court’s ruling.

“I am disappointed in the 11th U.S. Circuit Court’s decision not to stay the federal district court’s ruling. The confusion that has been created by the District Court’s ruling could linger for months until the U.S. Supreme Court resolves this issue once and for all,” said Attorney General Luther Strange.

“My office vigorously defended the constitutionality of Alabama’s marriage laws in the Searcy and Strawser cases, and we have appealed the court’s orders in those cases. Today, we filed a motion with the U.S. Supreme Court to stay the federal court’s decision until the Supreme Court finally rules on the issue in June.”