Shelby County Judge Says Alabama Gay Marriage Ruling Does Not Affect His Office

Shelby County Probate Judge Jim Fuhrmeister said Friday that a federal judge's ruling striking down Alabama's ban on gay marriage does not affect his office.

U.S. District Judge Callie “Ginny” Granade's ruling took effect on February 9, but a majority of probate judges initially decided to ignore the ruling, citing a conflicting order by Chief Justice Roy S. Moore.

(Related: AL's Roy Moore: Supreme Court order striking down gay marriage bans would be “wrong.”)

Many judges reversed course last week after Granade ordered Mobile County Probate Judge Don Davis to begin issuing marriage licenses to gay couples.

Fuhrmeister (pictured) said in a statement Friday that Granade's order “has no more legal impact on Shelby County than if it were issued by a United States District Judge in Georgia, Mississippi or California. Shelby County is not in Judge Granade's District.”

According to AL.com, the University of Montevallo Secular Student Alliance will protest Fuhrmeister's decision outside the Shelby County Courthouse on Tuesday and Wednesday.