Governor Bentley Issues Statement on Issuance of Same Sex Marriage Licenses

Statement

Governor Robert Bentley on Monday issued a statement on the issuance of same sex marriage licenses by Alabama Probate Judges. The statement is below.

"The issue of same sex marriage will be finally decided by the U.S. Supreme Court later this year," Governor Robert Bentley said. "I have great respect for the legal process, and the protections that the law provides for our people. I am disappointed that a single Federal court judge disregarded the vote of the Alabama people to define marriage as between a man and woman.

"I agree with the dissenting opinion from U.S. Supreme Court Justices Clarence Thomas and Antonin Scalia when they stated, "Today's decision represents yet another example of this Court's 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.'

"This issue has created confusion with conflicting direction for Probate Judges in Alabama. Probate Judges have a unique responsibility in our state, and I support them. I will not take any action against Probate Judges, which would only serve to further complicate this issue.

"We will follow the rule of law in Alabama, and allow the issue of same sex marriage to be worked out through the proper legal channels."

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