Tentative trial date set for suspended Alabama Chief Justice Moore

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — A court has set a tentative date for the trial of suspended Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore.

An order released Monday by the Alabama Court of the Judiciary says Moore's trial on judicial ethics charges will begin Sept. 28 if the case isn't over before then.

The case could come to an earlier end if the court agrees with judicial prosecutors and removes Moore based on legal arguments.

Moore opposes a move by prosecutors to have him ousted without a trial. A hearing is set for Aug. 8, and judges have told Moore to submit additional documents by Tuesday afternoon.

Moore is a Christian who opposes same-sex marriage. He is accused of wrongly issuing an order in defiance of the U.S. Supreme Court decision that effectively legalized gay marriage nationwide.

____

Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
The Gayly -8/2/2016 @ 1:52 p.m. CDT