Palmer Applauds Alabama Supreme Court, Alabama Policy Institute on Marriage Decision

For Immediate Release

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Gary Palmer, a co-founder and former President of the Alabama Policy Institute, applauds the Alabama Supreme Court's decision concerning Alabama's marriage laws, and further applauds the Alabama Policy Institute for bringing the case:

"I believe that marriage is correctly defined as being between one man and one woman. The overwhelming majority of the people of Alabama agree with me. We enshrined this truth into the Alabama State Constitution by more than a 4-1 margin in 2006. The Alabama Supreme Court has sided with the will of the people, not one unelected federal judge.

"As legal experts and many prior appellate court decisions have recognized, a federal district judge cannot bind a state supreme court. The Alabama Supreme Court affirmed this, and thus correctly ruled that, ‘Alabama probate judges have a ministerial duty not to issue any marriage license contrary to (Alabama) law. Nothing in the United States Constitution alters or overrides this duty.'

"I appreciate the leadership at the Alabama Policy Institute, along with the Alabama Citizens Action Program, for taking the lead on this issue and bringing this case to the Alabama Supreme Court. They chose to stand strongly for the values of the people of Alabama, knowing that such a decision will not be popular with many elites. I know that the people of Alabama will be well served by the Alabama Policy Institute's continued hard work on behalf of common sense conservative ideas and bold leadership."

For any additional questions, contact:

Cliff Smith, (202) 225-4921, clifford.smith@mail.house.gov
U.S. Representative Gary Palmer (R-AL) serves on three Congressional committees: Oversight and Government Reform, Budget, and Space, Science and Technology. Visit Palmer online at his website or via Facebook,Twitter, or Instagram