Keeping up with the seismic shifts in Alabama's marriage laws over the last two months, a Madison County judge approved the divorce of a same-sex couple Thursday, exactly a year after denying the same request.
Madison County Circuit Judge Karen Hall certified the divorce of Shrie Michelle Richmond and Kirsten Allysse Richmond on March 12, court records show.
Last year, Hall ruled the laws of Alabama did not recognize same-sex marriage -- the couple was married in Iowa in 2012 -- so she had no power to divorce them.
The two women, Madison and Morgan county natives, faced the prospect of having to move to Iowa for a year to establish residency to meet state divorce requirements.
Presiding Madison County Circuit Judge Karen Hall (AL.com file photo)
They deferred the decision, waiting to see what the federal courts, facing multiple same-sex marriage challenges, would decide, according to Huntsville attorney Patrick Hill, who represents Shrie Richmond.
A Mobile federal court judge ruled in January that the state's same-sex marriage ban was a violation of the U.S. Constitution's equal protection clause. In February, Alabama's probate judges were directed to began issuing same-sex marriage licenses.
The Richmonds filed again for divorce on Feb. 9, the day the same-sex marriage ban was ordered lifted by Mobile-based U.S. District Judge Callie V.S. "Ginny" Granade.
The Madison County Courthouse was among the busiest in the state that day in granting same-sex marriage licenses and couples emerging from the courthouse or tying the knot at Big Spring Park received rousing cheers from supporters.
Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore decried the federal court ruling, disputing the court's authority on the matter.
With Moore abstaining, the Alabama high court last week issued an opinion barring state probate judges from issuing same-sex marriage licenses. The court said state law only allows marriage between one man and one woman.
The same-sex marriage question will be taken up by the U.S. Supreme Court next month, involving four cases.
Hall granted the uncontested divorce between the two women in Madison County citing the couple's stated "incompatibility of temperament."
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