MOBILE, Ala. — A day after a federal ruling legalizing same-sex marriage took effect in Alabama, a federal judge set a hearing that could determine whether resistant local probate judges must grant licenses to gay couples. At the same time, some officials who had refused to issue the licenses, in compliance with a state judicial ruling, reversed course.

The probate judges are caught between conflicting signals from the state and federal judiciaries. State law does not require these judges to be lawyers, yet they are being called on to consider constitutional matters involving the interplay of federal and state authority. Generally they deal with matters like adoptions, guardianships and name changes.

Judge Greg Norris of Probate Court in Monroe County, president of the Alabama Probate Judges Association, was one of the judges who changed course. On Tuesday, he sent an email to his colleagues in other counties, explaining his position, but not, he said, urging them to do the same.

Judge Norris said he would not personally perform same-sex marriages. “The law says I may perform them, and I just don’t want to do it,” he said. “I’m going to follow the law to the best of my ability.”