Breaking: Federal Court Tosses Out Chief Justice Roy Moore’s Civil Rights Lawsuit

Anti-Gay Alabama Chief Justice Claimed His Civil Rights Were Being Violated After Charges He Violated Civil Rights of Same Sex Couples

A federal judge has just tossed out a lawsuit filed by Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore, who had claimed his civil rights were being violated by a state judicial commission. Moore is facing ethics charges that he engaged in misconduct by directing all of the state’s probate judges to not issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, after a federal court ruling and subsequent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry.

In its decision today, the federal court noted it was honoring the rights of the State of Alabama by allowing its processes to continue, and stated that a federal court ruling on Moore’s case would interrupt that process.

Moore was suspended with pay from his duties as Chief Justice while the Alabama Judicial Inquiry Commission reviews his actions. Moore argued that being suspended while the commission reviews his actions, which may have led to same-sex couples being denied their civil rights, was a violation of his civil rights of due process.

Their decision could lead to him being removed from his elected position as Chief Justice once again. 

UPDATE I:
In his January order directing probate judges to not issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, Moore falsely claimed the Supreme Court’s 2015 ruling in Obergefell applied only to Michigan, Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee, the states that comprise the 6th Circuit, and which ultimately became the Obergefell case. 

 

This is a breaking news and developing story. Details may change. This story will be updated, and NCRM will likely publish follow-up stories on this news. Stay tuned and refresh for updates.

 

Image: Screenshot via Randall Terry/YouTube
Hat tip: Buzzfeed