E-Filed

03/10/2015 @ 05:22:40 PM
Honorable Julia Jordan Weller
Clerk Of The Court

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF ALABAMA

Ex parte
S t a t e o f Alabama
ex r e l . A l a b a m a P o l i c y
I n s t i t u t e , et al..
Petitioners
No.

v.
A l a n L. K i n g ,

1140460

etc., et al.,

Respondents.
JUDGE VALERIE BRADFORD DAVIS'S RESPONSE
TO EMERGENCY PETITION FOR WRIT OF MANDAMUS
As

provided

by t h i s

Court's

order

2015, C l a r k e C o u n t y P r o b a t e Judge V a l e r i e
("Respondent")

hereby

responds

dated

M a r c h 3,

Bradford

Davis

t o and answers t h e

Emergency P e t i t i o n f o r W r i t o f Mandamus f i l e d b y t h e S t a t e
of

Alabama

and A l a b a m a
extent

on t h e r e l a t i o n o f A l a b a m a
Citizens Action

required

Program

by t h e Court's

Policy

Institute,

( " P e t i t i o n " ) . To t h e

re-alignment

o f Elmore

C o u n t y P r o b a t e Judge J o h n E n s l e n , R e s p o n d e n t i n t e n d s t h i s
filing

t o apply t o any a l l e g a t i o n s

he i s deemed t o have

made.
I.

RESPONSE TO STATEMENT OF FACTS

1.

R e s p o n d e n t a d m i t s t h e a l l e g a t i o n s o f p a r a g r a p h 1.

2.

R e s p o n d e n t a d m i t s t h e a l l e g a t i o n s o f p a r a g r a p h 2.

3.

R e s p o n d e n t a d m i t s t h e a l l e g a t i o n s o f p a r a g r a p h 3.

4.

R e s p o n d e n t a d m i t s t h e a l l e g a t i o n s o f p a r a g r a p h 4.

5.

R e s p o n d e n t a d m i t s t h e a l l e g a t i o n s o f p a r a g r a p h 5.

6.

R e s p o n d e n t a d m i t s t h e a l l e g a t i o n s o f p a r a g r a p h 6.

7.

R e s p o n d e n t a d m i t s t h e a l l e g a t i o n s o f p a r a g r a p h 7.

8.

R e s p o n d e n t a d m i t s t h e a l l e g a t i o n s o f p a r a g r a p h 8.

9.

Respondent i s not p r o p e r l y

included

as one o f t h e

o t h e r 63 p r o b a t e j u d g e s on t h e g r o u n d t h a t s h e "may i s s u e ,
o r may have i s s u e d ,

m a r r i a g e l i c e n s e s t o same-sex

i n Alabama as a r e s u l t o f " i n j u n c t i o n s

couples

i s s u e d b y t h e U.S.

D i s t r i c t C o u r t f o r t h e S o u t h e r n D i s t r i c t o f A l a b a m a as o f
the

date o f t h e P e t i t i o n .
10.

Respondent i s w i t h o u t s u f f i c i e n t

information to

a d m i t o r deny t h e a l l e g a t i o n s o f P a r a g r a p h 10.
11.

Respondent i s w i t h o u t s u f f i c i e n t

information to

a d m i t o r deny t h e a l l e g a t i o n s o f P a r a g r a p h 1 1 .
I I . RESPONSE TO STATEMENT OF REASONS WHY THE WRIT SHOULD
ISSUE
1.

In accord with

thed i s c r e t i o n conferred

by A l a .

Code 30-1-9, R e s p o n d e n t does n o t i s s u e m a r r i a g e

licenses

t o a n y o n e . She h a s n o t done s o s i n c e e a r l y F e b r u a r y 2015.

R e s p o n d e n t i s n o t one o f t h o s e j u d g e s who may i s s u e , o r
may

have

issued,

Therefore,

marriage

she d e n i e s t h a t

licenses

t o same-sex

couples.

s h e i s due t o be e n j o i n e d b y

this

Court

temporarily,

marriage l i c e n s e s
2.

or

or to issue

Respondent

otherwise,
marriage

from

issuing

licenses.

does n o t u n d e r s t a n d t h e R e l a t o r s t o

have a c c u s e d h e r o f i s s u i n g m a r r i a g e l i c e n s e s

t o couples

o t h e r t h a n one man a n d one woman.

3.

Respondent

further

answers

b e l i e f s make i t u n l i k e l y t h a t

that

her r e l i g i o u s

she w i l l use h e r d i s c r e t i o n

t o i s s u e m a r r i a g e l i c e n s e s a t a l l . The o f f i c i a l
conferred
Const.,

by A l a .

Code

30-1-9

a r t . I , 3.01, w h i c h

r e l i g i o n . Respondent

discretion

i s informed

respects

by A l a .

h e r freedom

of

possesses a r e l i g i o u s b e l i e f that the

t e r m " m a r r i a g e " h a s a l i m i t e d s c o p e , a n d r e f e r s o n l y t o an
agreement between

one man a n d one woman. S e c t i o n 3.01,

V(a) b a r s government from b u r d e n i n g Respondent's

of

r e l i g i o n , absent

which

i s furthered

Respondent's
in

the

a compelling
by

t h e means

governmental
least

freedom. F o r c e d c e r t i f i c a t i o n by Respondent,

form

of

means b y w h i c h

woman

can c l a i m

Alabama
public

interest

r e s t r i c t i v e of

license,

furthers

no

governmental i n t e r e s t ; l i c e n s i n g by Respondent
only

freedom

persons

t o have

other than

a marriage.

l a w t o accommodate
official

i s not the

one man a n d one

I t i s proper f o r

the r e l i g i o u s

by l i m i t i n g t h e scope

compelling

belief

of her

of a

official

activities

i n a way t h a t

does

not s u b s t a n t i a l l y

impair

government f u n c t i o n s .
4.

Respondent

Religious
seq.

further

answers

Freedom R e s t o r a t i o n A c t ,

("RFRA"),

bars

"government" from

the federal

42 U.S.C. 2000bb et

a l l Departments

compelling

that

of

the

federal

her to a f f i r m

that

persons

o t h e r t h a n one man a n d one woman e n t e r an a g r e e m e n t t e r m e d

"marriage."
"applies
that

Id., 2 0 0 0 b b - 1 ( a ) , 2 0 0 0 b b - 2 ( 1 ) .

The s t a t u t e

t o a l l f e d e r a l law, and t h e i m p l e m e n t a t i o n

law, whether

statutory

or

otherwise...."

2 0 0 0 b b - 3 ( a ) . The f e d e r a l RFRA s t a t u t e g u i d e s
power

of courts

created

by Congress,

least,

counsels

against

federal

of

Id.

the equitable

and, a t t h e v e r y

judicial

relief

which

s u b s t a n t i a l l y burdens r e l i g i o u s b e l i e f l i k e Respondent's.
5.

Respondent

i s not subject

other court a t t h i s time.

t o any o r d e r

o f any

I t i s n o t l i k e l y t h a t any f u t u r e

order o f the f e d e r a l d i s t r i c t court i n the cases c i t e d i n

the

Petition

would

require

Respondent

t o abandon

her

r e l i g i o u s b e l i e f s . F i r s t , "the A r t [ i c l e ] I I I requirements
5 e e also
Torcaso
v. Watkins,
367 U.S. 488 (1961)
( C o n s t i t u t i o n b a r s r e q u i r e m e n t t o a f f i r m b e l i e f i n God as
a c o n d i t i o n t o o f f i c e ) ; Rigdon v. Perry,
962 F. Supp. 150
(D.D.C.
1997)(ban
on
government
chaplains
urging
c o n g r e g a n t s t o communicate w i t h C o n g r e s s a b o u t p e n d i n g
anti-abortion legislation).
1

of s t a n d i n g

are

nonobservance
citizens.'"
United

for

not
of

otherwise

reflects

statute
v.

6.
Court

an

an

asserted

College

v.

State,

454

and

government

exemption
operation

specific

Lobby

beliefs).

abstract injury

i n a properly

the

no

i s not

Hobby

of

establishment
Stores,

not

134

exceeds

4798923

its

*13

to
the

basis

law

i n the

of

which

text

religion.

Ct.

2751

r e q u i r e h e a l t h care

of
See

(2014)

contrary

to

jurisdiction,

and

o f e q u i t a b l e power. See
at

464

case,

the

of

S.

U.S.

property

exemption

...

Americans

filed
on

in

by

As a g a i n s t R e s p o n d e n t , t h e M a r c h 3 O r d e r o f

understanding
WL

giving

of

from

( f e d e r a l s t a t u t e may
religious

Church

Second,

recognition
belief

Christian

of

about

religious

Burwell

Forge

group).

'the

Constitution

Separation

religious

the

the

Valley

(1982)(complaint

judicial

s a t i s f i e d by

(Ala.

Sept.

any

White

26,

traditional
v. John,

2014).

As

R e s p o n d e n t , t h e M a r c h 3 O r d e r i s an u n a u t h o r i z e d
o p i n i o n because i t w i l l not r e d r e s s

any

this

2014

against
advisory

harm a r i s i n g

from

Cf.,
Caperton
v. A.T. Massey Coal Co., 556 U.S.
868
( 2 0 0 9 ) ( p a r t i a l temporary s u s p e n s i o n of j u d i c i a l d u t i e s
a p p r o p r i a t e remedy f o r e l e c t i o n c a m p a i g n s p e e c h ) ; In re
Kendall,
712 F. 3d 814, 823-25 (3d C i r . 2 0 1 3 ) ( p r o t e c t i o n
for
official
speech
of
judge
criticizing
appellate
decision).
2

t h e e x e r c i s e o f R e s p o n d e n t ' s d i s c r e t i o n c o n f e r r e d by A l a .
Code 30-1-9.
7.

To

And, s t a n d i n g i s n o t d i s p e n s e d

the extent

that

Judge

Enslen

i n gross.

has

been

re-

a l i g n e d as a P e t i t i o n e r p a r t y , i n h i s o f f i c i a l c a p a c i t y o r
as r e l a t o r f o r t h e S t a t e o f A l a b a m a , R e s p o n d e n t r e - a f f i r m s
t h e p r e v i o u s p a r a g r a p h s as h e r a n s w e r .
R e s p e c t f u l l y submitted

on M a r c h 10,

2015.

/s/ Albert
L. Jordan
A l b e r t L. J o r d a n
(JOR002)
/s/ Susan E. McPherson
Susan E. M c P h e r s o n (MCP014)
OF COUNSEL:
Wallace Jordan R a t l i f f &
T r<
B r a n d^ 4t- , TLLC
P o s t O f f i c e Box 530910
B i r m i n g h a m , AL 35233-0910
T e l e p h o n e : (205) 874-0305
F a c s i m i l e : (205) 874-3250
b j o r d a n @ w a l l a c e j ordan.com
A t t o r n e y s f o r Respondent
C l a r k e C o u n t y P r o b a t e Judge V a l e r i e B r a d f o r d

Davis

Certificate
I

certify

that

of Service

I have on M a r c h

10, 2015, s e r v e d

c o p y o f t h e f o r e g o i n g R e s p o n s e t o Emergency P e t i t i o n f o r
W r i t o f Mandamus on a l l c o u n s e l b y t h e C o u r t ' s
filing
and

system, e - m a i l ,

o r b y U.S. M a i l ,

electronic-

postage

prepaid

a d d r e s s e d as f o l l o w s :
H a r r y V. S a t t e r w h i t e , E s q .
SATTERWHITE & TYLER, LLC
1325 D a u p h i n S t r e e t
M o b i l e , A l a b a m a 36604

R a n d a l l C. M a r s h a l l , E s q .
ACLU FOUNDATION OF ALABAMA
P.O. Box 6179
Montgomery, A l a b a m a 36106

Shannon P. M i n t e r , E s q .
C h r i s t o p h e r F. S t o l l , E s q .
NATIONAL CENTER FOR
LESBIAN RIGHTS
1100 H S t r e e t , NW
S u i t e 540
W a s h i n g t o n , DC 20005

Lee L. H a l e , E s q .
HALE AND HUGHES
501 C h u r c h S t r e e t
M o b i l e , A l a b a m a 36602

l\/r^V-S 4- ^ ^ V V ^ ^

T^TT

7\ "

James W. D a v i s , E s q .
L a u r a E. H o w e l l , E s q .
OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL
S t a t e o f Alabama
501 W a s h i n g t o n Avenue
Montgomery, A l a b a m a 36130

Heather Fann, E s q .
BOYD, FERNAMBUCQ, DUNN &
FANN, P.C.
3500 B l u e L a k e D r i v e ,
S u i t e 220
B i r m i n g h a m , A l a b a m a 35243

A . E r i c Johnston, Esq.
12200 C o r p o r a t e D r i v e
S u i t e 107
B i r m i n g h a m , A l a b a m a 35242

Mark S. Boardman, E s q .
C l a y R. C a r r , E s q .
T e r e s a B. P e t e l o s , E s q .
BOARDMAN, CARR, BENNETT,
WATKINS, H I L L & GAMBLE,
P.C.
400 Boardman D r i v e
C h e l s e a , A l a b a m a 35043

Samuel J . M c L u r e , E s q .
THE ADOPTION LAW FIRM
P.O. Box 2396
Montgomery, A l a b a m a 36102
Mathew D. S t a v e r , E s q .
H o r a t i o G. M i h e t , E s q .
R o g e r K. Gannam, E s q .
LIBERTY COUNSEL
P.O. BOX 5407 74
O r l a n d o , FL 32854-0774

R o b e r t D. S e g a l l , E s q .
COPELAND, FRANCO, SCREWS &
G I L L , P.A.
P.O. Box 347
Montgomery, AL 36101-0347
7

Thomas T. G a l l i o n , E s q .
C o n s t a n c e C. W a l k e r , E s q .
HASKELL SLAUGHTER &
GALLION, LLC
8 Commerce S t r e e t ,
S u i t e 1200
Montgomery, AL 36104

J e f f r e y Sewell, Esq.
French McMillan, Esq.
SEWELL, SEWELL, MCMILLAN,
LLC
1841 2nd A v e . , S t e . 214
J a s p e r , AL 35501-5359
Greg Hawley, Esq.
C h r i s Nicholson, Esq.
JONES & HAWLEY, PC
2001
Park
P l Ste.
830
B i r m i n g h a m , AL 35203-2735

T y r o n e C. Means, E s q .
H. L e w i s G i l l i s , E s q .
K r i s t e n G i l l i s , Esq.
MEANS G I L L I S LAW, LLC
P.O. Box 5058
Montgomery, AL 36103
Mark E n g l e h a r t , E s q .
ENGLEHART LAW OFFICES
9457 A l s b u r y P l a c e
Montgomery, AL 36117

A y e s h a Khan, E s q .
AMERICANS UNITED FOR
SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND
STATE
1301 K. S t r e e t , N.W.
W a s h i n g t o n , DC 20005

George W. R o y e r , J r . , E s q .
B r a d A. C h y n o w e t h , E s q .
LANIER FORD SHAVER &
PAYNE, P.C.
P.O. Box 2087
H u n t s v i l l e , AL 35804

J . R i c h a r d Cohen, E s q .
David D i n i e l l i , Esq.
SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW
CENTER
400 W a s h i n g t o n Avenue
Montgomery, AL 36104

K e n d r i c k Webb, E s q .
J a m i e H. K i d d , E s q .
F r e d L. C l e m e n t s , E s q .
WEBB & ELEY, PC
P.O. Box 240909
Montgomery, A l a b a m a 36124

L. Dean J o h n s o n , E s q .
L. DEAN JOHNSON, PC
4030 B a l m o r a l Dr. SW
C (
H u n t s v i l l e , AL O35801

s/ Albert
L.
Of C o u n s e l
8

Jordan