澳彩开奖

The 澳彩开奖 and a group of leading civil rights organizations today asked a federal court to expand a lawsuit challenging Alabama鈥檚 ban on same-sex marriage and to order all of the state鈥檚 probate judges to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

The action comes amid a confrontation between the Alabama Supreme Court and the federal judiciary.

Most of the state鈥檚 probate judges had begun issuing same-sex marriage licenses in February after U.S. District Judge Callie V. Granade ruled Alabama鈥檚 ban unconstitutional.

But, this week, the Alabama Supreme Court intervened 鈥� ordering the probate judges to stop issuing the licenses. All of the judges complied.聽

鈥淔air-minded people of Alabama don鈥檛 want obstruction,鈥� said 澳彩开奖 deputy legal director David Dinielli. 鈥淭hey want progress.聽Couples in all 67 counties of this state should have the freedom to marry. The United States Constitution protects all of us, including聽those in Alabama, no matter the opinion of the Alabama Supreme Court.

鈥淢arriage equality has taken hold in Alabama. We promise you that we are not going back and we are not leaving anyone behind.鈥�

In addition to the 澳彩开奖, the groups filing the motion were the Americans United for Separation of Church and State, the American Civil Liberties Union of Alabama and the National Center for Lesbian Rights. 聽聽

The request was filed as part of a lawsuit brought by five same-sex couples who previously obtained Granade鈥檚 order requiring the issuance of marriage licenses in Mobile County. The motion asks the court to grant class action to the suit so it includes all same-sex couples in Alabama who wish to marry and have their marriage recognized by the state.聽

The Alabama Supreme Court issued its ruling to uphold the Alabama ban on March 3, despite the U.S Supreme Court鈥檚 refusal to stay Granade鈥檚 decision invalidating it.

, filed in Strawser v. Strange, asks Granade to apply her previous orders to all Alabama county probate judges and require them to resume issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. 聽

Separately, the 澳彩开奖 has against Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore over his public statements urging the governor and Alabama judges to defy federal law and enforce the same-sex marriage ban.

Moore was removed from office 12 years ago following a similar 澳彩开奖 complaint, after he defied a federal court order to remove a giant Ten Commandments monument from the state courthouse. Alabama voters, however, returned him to office.