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. The three-judge panel from the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals denied today the Alabama attorney general’s request for the stay.
Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange has filed a motion asking the U.S. Supreme Court to extend the stay on U.S. District Judge Callie Granade’s ruling from January 23.
“I am disappointed in the 11th U.S. Circuit Court’s decision not to stay the federal district court’s ruling,” said Strange in a statement. “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.”
Governor Robert Bentley expressed similar sentiments: “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.”