FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS ADVISORY
March 9, 2014
For More Information, contact:
Luther Strange
Mike Lewis (334) 353-2199
Alabama Attorney General
Joy Patterson (334) 242-7491
Claire Haynes (334) 242-7351
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CITING UNNECESSARY CHAOS CAUSED BY ORIGINAL SEARCY v. STRANGE
RULING, AG STRANGE OPPOSES STRAWSER MOTION TO FORCE STATE’S
PROBATE JUDGES TO GRANT SAME-SEX MARRIAGE LICENSES
(Montgomery) Attorney General Luther Strange today asked the Mobile federal court to reject
efforts to suddenly change a same-sex marriage lawsuit that already has been ruled upon, urging the
Court not to allow the case to be certified as a class action that would force all of Alabama’s 68
probate judges to grant same-sex marriage licenses.
Attorney General Strange called upon U.S. District Judge Callie Granade to deny a motion
filed by plaintiffs in the case of Strawser and Humphrey v. Strange. The Attorney General said the
Court should take no further action as the U.S. Supreme Court will resolve the issue of same-sex
marriage in June.
The Attorney General’s motion noted that the original federal court decision has predictably
created unnecessary chaos in courthouses across the state.
“When this court enjoined Attorney General Strange from enforcing Alabama’s marriage laws
to the extent those laws prohibited ‘same-sex marriage,’ Attorney General Strange immediately
moved for a stayÖAmong other grounds, Attorney General Strange argued that a fundamental
redefinition of marriage in Alabama without the benefit of full appellate review would lead to chaos,
confusion, and additional litigation that could be avoided if the Court’s orders were simply stayed a
few months until the United States Supreme Court resolved the issue.”
“Since then, the number and rate of developments has been dizzying as officials came to
different conclusions about their legal obligations and as parties tried to intervene in the initial cases
and bring other officials under the Court’s injunction,” the Attorney General’s motion added.
“The Court should not further undermine the relationship between the state and federal
courts by granting Plaintiffs leave to drastically change the nature of this case at this late date.
Granting the relief the Plaintiffs seek will only add to all the chaos and confusion in Alabama, and
will only increase the tension between the state and federal courts.”
“The only wise and judicious course of action is to deny the motion to amend and wait until
June when the United States Supreme Court will resolve the constitutionality of same sex marriage in
a way that will be binding on all federal judges and all state officials.”
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501 Washington Avenue * Montgomery, AL 36104 * (334) 242-7300
www.ago.alabama.gov
