Suspended Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Moore announces US Senate run
Roy Moore
Roy Moore, the Alabama Supreme Court chief justice who recently lost an appeal of his suspension, announced Wednesday that he is resigning from that position and running for U.S. Senate, AL.com reports.
In September, the Alabama Court of the Judiciary suspended Moore for the remainder of his term after he told state probate judges they had a “ministerial duty” to not give same-sex couples marriage licenses despite federal and U.S. Supreme Court findings to the contrary. A special committee of retired Alabama Supreme Court justices upheld the decision April 19.
Moore addressed the suspension Wednesday, describing the prosecution as “politically motivated,” according to AL.com.
Judges and justices, Moore said, are ignoring the Constitution.
“I know and I think you do, too, that the foundations of the fabric of our country are being shaken tremendously. Our families are being crippled by divorce and abortion,” Moore said. “Our sacred institution of marriage has been destroyed by the Supreme Court. Our rights and liberties are in jeopardy.”
Moore was also suspended from the state supreme court in 2003 after he refused to follow a federal court order directing him to remove a Ten Commandments monument Moore had installed in the building that houses the state supreme court. He was re-elected as chief justice to the state supreme court in 2012 for a six-year term. State age-limit requirements for the Alabama Supreme Court prevent Moore, who is 70, from running for re-election after his suspension ends.
So far, Moore is one of four candidates for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Jeff Sessions when he was tapped to serve as U.S. attorney general, according to AL.com. Others are considering getting in the campaign.
“I’ll stand for the rights and liberties of the people,” Moore said. “My position has always been God first, family then country,” Moore said. “I share the vision of President Donald Trump to make America great again.”
