Saturday Data: Marriage Aftermath

     One of the same-sex marriage issues left unsettled in the aftermath of the U.S. Supreme Court marriage equality decision has now been settled.
     A Federal Judge has ordered Montgomery resident Paul Hard be officially recognized as the surviving spouse, and be provided a share of death benefits resulting from the death of his husband.
    The Southern Poverty Law Center represented Paul Hard in his legal battle, which required him to go to court against his partner's mother.
    The SPLC reported the final court order in the case this week.  

"I hope that this decision marks a new day for Alabamians and others in the public’s recognition of my marriage and a love that is equal to any other.”

                                                                                                                           Paul Hard 

     While that issue may be settled, there are many others that, at least as far as some Alabama officials go, are far from over.
     And of of those issues is a repeat of a 2013 battle between Moore and The SPLC. Back then, Moore was thrown out as Chief Justice after a state judicial ethics panel ruled in favor of the SPLC's complaint that Moore had refused to follow Federal Court orders to remove his 10-Commandments Monument from the Alabama Judicial Building. Voters later re-elected Moore to the court.

 

Alabama Supreme Court Building, Montgomery

   The SPLC's current complaint--which potentially could have the same result--argues that Moore's public comments about same-sex marriage encourage state officials to---again---ignore The Supreme Court ruling.
      The Judiciary Court operates secretly, as least as long as a complaint is being investigated. There's no telling how long it will be before they issue a judgement about Moore.

[Saturday Data is a regular feature of www.TimLennox.com]