Supporters hold rally for Alabama chief justice

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Supporters of suspended Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore held rally in Montgomery.

Speakers led prayers and urged those at the rally Saturday to sign an online petition supporting Moore and called the ethics charges filed by the Judicial Inquiry Commission a "politically-motivated travesty," Al.com (http://bit.ly/242130F ) reported. The event was held outside the Alabama Judicial Building.

Moore's wife, Kayla Moore, told the crowd that her husband did not attend the rally because he did not want the event to be solely focused on him.

"It's about freedom," Kayla Moore said. "It's about religious freedom and our constitution."

The Judicial Inquiry Committee on May 6 filed an ethics complaint against Moore. The charges stem from a January order Moore sent to probate judges saying an Alabama court order banning same-sex marriages remained effective even though a U.S. Supreme Court decision effectively legalized gay marriage.

Moore's attorney Mat Staver called the complaint a political witch hunt. Staver said Moore did nothing wrong and did not tell judges to refuse the licenses.

Moore, 69, has been automatically suspended from the bench and could be removed from office.

Speakers also denounced same-sex marriage and President Barack Obama's directive that public schools allow students to use bathrooms and locker rooms that match their gender identity.

Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
The Gayly - 5/22/2016 @ 8:13 a.m. CDT