Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore discusses the U.S. Supreme Court's same-sex marriage ruling Monday, June 29, 2015, in Montgomery, Ala. (Julie Bennett/jbennett@al.com)

Embarrassment. A joke. Grasping at straws. Publicity hound. Unethical. Vicious. Mean-spirited.

Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore's supporters have heard it all about the state's top judge. And, to them, it doesn't matter: It's the critics who have it all wrong.

Almost two weeks after Moore came out with his latest stance against legalized gay marriage in Alabama, his supporters believe the Chief Justice has a good point. They believe Moore is the leading defender in Alabama of traditional marriage between one man and one woman and that his views are backed by an overwhelmingly majority of the state's population.

"There has been this big outrage over Chief Justice Moore's order, and the people started attacking him and I think they forgot to look at the reality of what's going on," said Hannah Ford, a Montgomery resident who is aligned with Sanctity of Marriage of Alabama. "(The Supreme Court decision) binded only four states."

Moore's supporters are siding with his recent stance that the U.S. Supreme Court's 5-4 decision last year in the landmark Obergefell vs. Hodges case did not apply to Alabama. Instead, they and others believe that the high court's ruling overturned same-sex marriage bans in Michigan, Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee only.

Moore issued an administrative order on Jan. 6 instructing probate judges to enforce Alabama's ban on same-sex marriage because an Alabama Supreme Court ruling on that matter from last March remains in effect.

The move has been roundly panned by media critics as another example of judicial overreach by Moore. Even President Barack Obama weighed in by saying that marriage equality "is here to stay."

But Moore's supporters are citing public opinion as a reason why Alabama's judicial system ought to align with the Chief Justice and push back against the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling. In 2006, 81 percent of Alabama voters supported the state's Sanctity of Marriage Act which made it unconstitutional for the state to recognize or perform same-sex marriages or civil unions.

Alabama law was struck down about one year ago by federal judge Callie V. Granade, who said the ruling violated the Fourteenth Amendment's guarantees of equal protection and due process.

"Over the past year, he's been representing not just God's definition of marriage, but a proper historical interpretation of the Constitution," Ford said. "It's just kind of hard for us to watch people rallying against that and wanting to take him down over those things."

Young's support

Among Moore's most ardent supporters is Orange Beach developer, Dean Young. "That is part of the constitution of the state of Alabama and the will of the people is clear, no matter what five judges on the Supreme Court says ... marriage always has been between a man and a woman. You can't redefine words. There are times when the Supreme Court, in all their wisdom, is wrong."

Young and Moore have known one another for about 20 years. In 2013, while Young was embroiled in a heated GOP primary contest against Bradley Byrne for Alabama's 1st congressional district seat, Moore stepped to his side.

Moore wrote a letter in support of Young, who once worked as his aide. Said Young at the time, "I'd rather have Judge Moore's support than anybody I could think of in the state or nation."

Last week, Young helped organize a counter-protest in Montgomery at the same time a "Remove Roy Moore" rally was underway at the front of the Alabama Supreme Court building.

"All Judge Moore did was quote the federal courts that said Obergefell did not apply to Alabama because Alabama wasn't a part of the Obergefell decision," Young said. He added that the Alabama Supreme Court, which consists solely of Republican justices, needs to clarify whether the U.S. Supreme Court's decision applies to Alabama.

"These judges on the Alabama Supreme Court need to do what they were elected to do," Young said. "They are elected and will have to answer to the people. It appears to me that they are trying to hide and not rule on the case. That's pathetic."

Alabama popularity



Young said the will of Alabama residents is behind Moore's views, and outside observers agree: Give Alabama voters another try, and they would be punching their ballots in favor of Moore's re-election to the Alabama Supreme Court.

William Stewart, a professor emeritus of political sciences at the University of Alabama, said he doesn't think Moore's popularity in the state has eroded despite media criticism he's gotten for his persistent opposition to gay marriage.

"I think Moore espouses values with which many, probably most, Alabamians agree," Stewart said. "He is a great orator in an age when this is virtually a lost art. Also, I think most people rightly believe that Moore actually believes in what he says/does. He is not just demagoguing. He is willing to pay the price for standing up for his convictions."

That was the case in 2003, when Moore - in his first stint as Chief Justice -- was removed from office by a judicial ethics panel after disobeying a federal order to remove a Ten Commandments monument at the Supreme Court building.

About 10 years later, Moore resurrected his political career after he defeated Jefferson County Circuit Judge Bob Vance to reclaim his seat.

Aside from the gay marriage issue, Stewart said that Moore's kept mostly a "low-profile" since that victory. And he thinks his popularity could spur Moore to win the seat if he was eligible to run again (he isn't, the Alabama Constitution forbids judges from running if they reach the age of 70 during the new term in which they aspire. Moore is 68. His term expires in 2018).

Jonathan Gray, a political and campaign consultant from South Alabama, said Moore would be re-elected if he was eligible to run again.

"From an electability purpose, Roy Moore can be the most unpopular man in Alabama but when it came time to push the button, and the question is who is the most conservative (candidate), Alabama voters will vote for Roy Moore," Gray said. "He emboldens the most conservative interpretation there is on social policy.

He added, "The decision of the Republican voter is simple: I want the most conservative person I can get."

Ford said she's simply pleased with how Moore has kept a persistent push in supporting traditional marriage.

"Whatever people want to make of that, we do appreciate him," she said.