Chief Justice suspended, plot thickens in Montgomery

Chief Justice suspended, plot thickens in Montgomery

Featured image: Alabama State Capitol building in the city of Montgomery, where Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore has become only the latest high-ranking elected official entangled in controversy


By Tyler Pruett

tyler@southerntorch.com

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Ongoing and now newly emerging, scandal among elected officials serving at the highest levels of Alabama government have grown even more complicated this week. Last Friday, the Alabama Judicial Inquiry Commission forwarded charges alleging that Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore had, “flagrantly disregarded and abused his authority.” The charges officially suspend Judge Moore of his authority until the conclusion of the trial, and may result in him being removed from the bench altogether.

The charges stem from Moore ordering probate judges across the state to refuse to issue same-sex marriage licenses despite a federal judge in Mobile ruling against such a ban, and the United States Supreme Court overturning all such bans.

This new headache in Montgomery complicates both the ongoing Gov. Bentley scandal and the coming trial of Speaker of the House Mike Hubbard. The Chief Justice would serve a crucial role in judicial action when it comes to top state officials and would preside over impeachment proceedings in the event one takes place. If Moore is removed office, Bentley is even responsible for naming his successor, which the governor would face instead of Moore.

Multiple complaints filed and efforts led by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) caused the Judicial Inquiry Commission to take action. The commission is made up of judges from varying backgrounds that are tasked with judicial oversight in the state. It will be Judge Moore’s second time to face the panel in his career; with an appearance a decade ago over defying a federal order to remove a Ten Commandments monument from his courtroom.

While no one can forecast how the court will ultimately rule, it’s certain that he will be suspended from his duties as Chief Justice until the trial date. While the date has not yet been set, according to court rules, Moore has one month to respond to the filings, after which the trial date must be set at least 30 days in advance. This leaves the embattled chief justice on suspension until at least late summer.

Of little surprise to many, Justice Moore’s office was quick to issue a rebuttal to the charges, if that surprised anyone. He put up a vigorous defense while under fire for the Ten Commandment issue.

In a statement, Moore said, “We intend to fight this agenda vigorously and expect to prevail.”

Moore’s office also claimed that the Judicial Inquiry Commission had no authority to file the charges, saying that the commission has no authority over the matter since it pertains to a dispute between the federal courts and the state.

This suspension is just the latest chapter in Moore’s fight against same-sex marriage. His ongoing dispute with federal courts has frequently drawn the attention of national media outlets. The legal action against our highest judge, coupled with the ongoing scandals surrounding the governor and Mike Hubbard, has frequently left Alabama in the national spotlight. With our chief justice suspended for at least 2 - 3 months, this only further complicates resolving the other matters at hand.