Judge Roy Moore Booted from the Bench over Gay Marriage

Chief Justice Roy Moore has been suspended without pay for the remainder of his term over accusations he tried to keep gay couples from marrying in the state.

On Friday, Alabama's Court of the Judiciary suspended him without pay for the remainder of his term, which runs through January 2019. 

Moore was accused of telling Alabama's 68 probate judges to refuse marriage licenses to gay couples. He denies he ever told probate judges what they should do.

The charges come from a January administrative order Moore sent probate judges. He said then that a prior Alabama Supreme Court order to refuse marriage licenses to gay couples had not been lifted and remained in "full force and effect."

Monday's punishment effectively removes the judge from office without the court officially ousting him. The removal requires unanimous vote, but the suspension, is a de facto removal. 

"To suspend Chief Justice Moore for the rest of his term is the same as removal. The COJ lacked the unanimous votes to remove the Chief, so the majority instead chose to ignore the law and the rules," Mat Staver, with the Liberty Counsel, said.

Staver says that Moore did nothing wrong and that the charges should be dismissed. 

"The evidence and the arguments presented Wednesday showed that Chief Justice Moore should be reinstated. He did nothing wrong. The JIC presented no live testimony or affidavits. The charges should be dismissed. Today's decision by the COJ to suspend the Chief for the rest of his term throws the rule of law out the window. This system must be changed,' said Staver. 

Liberty Counsel is filing an appeal of the decision with the Alabama Supreme Court.