article_snippet: Court Alabama has ordered the state's probate judges to stop issuing marriage licenses to gay couples in the latest development in a fierce battle over the power of federal law.
article_snippet: In Alabama, marriage has been legally defined as the union of only one man and one woman for two centuries, Court said, siding with an argument recently offered by a pair of conservative organizations. '
article_snippet: Alabama probate judges have a ministerial duty not to issue any marriage license contrary to this law.
article_snippet: Nothing in the United States Constitution alters or overrides a ministerial duty not to issue any marriage license contrary to this law', Court added.
article_snippet: Court Alabama (pictured) has ordered the state's probate judges to stop issuing marriage licenses to gay couples in the latest development in a fierce battle over the power of federal law .
article_snippet: Immediately after Granade's ruling, Moore told probate judges across the state probate judges were not obliged to issue same-sex marriage licenses.
article_snippet: Above, Shante Wolfe, left, and Tori Sisson, right, wait for their marriage license to be processed  in Montgomery, Ala., Last month .
article_snippet: In Alabama, marriage has been legally defined as the union of only one man and one woman for two centuries, Court said.
article_snippet: Above, people rally against same-sex marriage in Montgomery on February 21 .
article_snippet: Some refused to issue the licenses to engaged same-sex couples, while others shut down others operations for all couples, gay and straight, until others could get a clear answer.
article_snippet: Gay marriage has been legalized in at least 36 US states, as well as the District of Columbia.
highlights_snippet: Court has told probate judges to stop issuing same-sex marriage licenses .
  
highlights_snippet: But court argues under Alabama law, marriage involves a man and woman .
  