Is Alabama judge right on gay marriage? #tellusatoday

Despite a federal ruling striking down Alabama's same-sex marriage ban, county judges refuse to issue licenses to gay couples. Letters to the editor:

Why, when Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore asks probate judges to defy a federal court ruling striking down Alabama's gay marriage ban, is there no cry from the conservatives who so regularly rail against "activist judges" ("Many Ala. counties refuse to issue gay-marriage licenses")?

Maybe it's because they really don't mind judges "legislating from the bench" at all. What they won't abide is any law that runs contrary to their beliefs. In other words, they don't truly believe in the rule of law.

They believe in and are willing to obey laws that only reflect the world as they believe it should be.

Steven Schild; Winona, Minn.

How can a single federal judge overrule the decision of millions of voters? Alabama voted to ban gay marriage, but one opinionated federal judge obviously must know what's better for the more than 4 million Alabama citizens ("'Roy Moore: 'Federal judges are not infallible'").

When did judges start making laws? What's wrong with our system? I support Roy Moore in fighting this ruling.

Scott Wallace; Muscle Shoals, Ala.

We asked our followers what they thought about the situation in Alabama. Comments from Twitter and Facebook are edited for clarity and grammar:

The judges are breaking the law, violating the constitutional rights of citizens they're paid to serve, and should face punishment.

— @SHP1972

Isn't civil disobedience a tenet of American political philosophy?

— @DennisAmes

Sometimes your moral beliefs will conquer your government workplace beliefs.

— @djcat_monster

Arrest the judges, throw those traitors in the slammer and throw away the key.

— @rdemne

The same thing happened in Alabama when the schools were desegregated and some school officials did not obey.

— @Foreigninterna

Don't forget that JFK and LBJ had to send the troops into Mississippi and Alabama.

— @TooGuud

Isn't refusing to issue licenses against the law? How rude and unfair.

— @BryanTheBrain8

Roy Moore is popular in Alabama and was re-elected as the state's chief justice despite a fiasco involving his display of a Ten Commandments monument some years ago. He is just doing what his constituency wants.

The true shame is that the people of Alabama knew this guy and put him in power anyway.

— Paul Beighley

I think same-sex marriage is contrary to our laws and morals.

— Walter Lampton

People can believe gay marriage is immoral whether or not same-sex couples can marry under the law. The right to disagree with it is not equivalent to a right to prevent same-sex couples from marrying.

— Nicholas Reed

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