“I am choosing to take the Pike County Probate Office out of the marriage licensing business altogether,” Wes Allen announced Friday. “That is completely within my rights under the laws of Alabama.”
Allen made the surprise announcement via his Twitter account claiming the wording of an archaic state statute gives him the authority “to not issue marriage licenses to anyone.”
“Marriage licenses,” Alabama Code Section 30-1-9 reads, “may be issued by the judges of probate of the several counties.”
“The word ‘may’ implies that I have a choice,” Allen explained to the Troy Messenger. “At this time, I am exercising my right to choose not to issue any marriage licenses to anyone.”
“I believe that the Alabama Constitution and federal law protect my right to both live my life as a Christian and perform my elected duties,” Allen said. “The way that the law allows me to do that is by giving me the discretion to end the issuance of marriage licenses, and that is the legal course I am taking.”
“The people of Pike County elected me to perform my duties and they also elected me because of who I am and the values I live by,” Allen said.
American law is true ****
There's no room for judges to bring in their personal views. How is this man still neutral and unbiased?
Tell that to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals which is extremely liberal and will nearly overturn any law they think is conservative. Then you have the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals which is conservative. Okay so these are appointed by the POTUS and approved by the Senate but that does not mean elected judges are any different. They have to be elected so they need to run based on so set of values.
Giving heterosexuals a taste of their own medicine! Hope he inconveniences a few straights, and it causes them to rethink their stance on gay marriage.
The Governor said no action will be taken against judges who issue licenses. Couples are marrying in most counties right now and taking stubborn judges to court (filing contempt motions)
he didn't lie, it does say "may be issued" and not "shall be issued".
