A federal district court yesterday ordered all Alabama probate judges to issue marriage licenses to all qualified same-sex couples.

The ruling by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Alabama applies to all probate judges, which are responsible for issuing marriage licenses, in Alabama’s 67 counties.

Judge Callie V.S. Granade’s order in Strawser v. Strange makes clear that probate judges are obligated to obey the U.S. Constitution and issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples regardless of a ruling issued earlier this year by the Alabama Supreme Court, which sought to end same-sex marriage in the state.

Although the decision allows same-sex couples to wed in Alabama, it is on hold pending the upcoming U.S. Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges. The high court heard oral arguments in that case in April, and a ruling is expected by the end of June.

“It’s a shame that it had to come to this,” said Americans United Legal Director Ayesha N. Khan. “Probate judges, and the Alabama Supreme Court, should have seen the writing on the wall with the federal court’s earlier rulings. It is time for bigotry aimed at same-sex couples to come to an end – in Alabama and elsewhere.”

"This is a victory for the LGBT community of Alabama," said Susan Watson, executive director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Alabama. "We applaud the court for its ruling that puts an end to the chaos created by the Alabama Supreme Court. Today love is triumphant."

National Center for Lesbian Rights Legal Director Shannon Minter added: “Today’s ruling is a powerful affirmation of the rule of law and the founding principle of our nation that states may not deny rights guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution. Same-sex couples and their children deserve the same respect and protections that their neighbors enjoy, and today’s ruling guarantees that Alabama’s same-sex couples will soon be treated the same as other families.”

David Dinielli, Southern Poverty Law Center’s deputy legal director, stated, "Judge Granade's ruling is decisive and definitive. It ends the chaos and confusion that Attorney General Strange and Chief Justice Moore have intentionally caused through their reckless rejection of federal constitutional principles. As soon as the United States Supreme Court issues its ruling in June, Judge Granade's decision will go into effect, and probate judges in every county of Alabama will be bound by a federal court order to comply with constitutional principles of fairness and equality. This is a good day for all Alabamians who believe in the rule of law."

Americans United, the ACLU, the SPLC and the National Center for Lesbian Rights litigated the case jointly.

Most Alabama probate judges started issuing same-sex marriage licenses in February after Granade declared unconstitutional an Alabama law and an Alabama constitutional provision banning marriage equality. But the Alabama Supreme Court halted same-sex marriages throughout the state March 3.

On behalf of five couples, Americans United and its allies had asked Granade to expand a previous ruling, which only applied to Mobile County, to all same-sex couples and all probate judges throughout the state.