Mississippi AG Asks To Stop Defending Guv In Gay Marriage Case

Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood speaks about his office's efforts to combat cyber crime during his morning address at the Neshoba County Fair in Philadelphia, Miss., Wednesday, July 30, 2014. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
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Now that the Supreme Court ruled that same-sex couples have the right to marry, the attorney general and governor of Mississippi are butting heads over how to proceed.

The Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood (D) on Tuesday asked a federal appeals court to allow his office to withdraw as counsel to Gov. Phil Bryant (R) in the case regarding the state’s ban on same-sex marriage, according to Buzzfeed News.

The plaintiffs in the Mississippi same-sex marriage case asked on Friday that the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals lift the stay on its ruling striking down the state’s ban following the Supreme Court ruling. Hood’s office supported the plaintiff’s request, but Bryant opposed the motion, according to Buzzfeed.

Following Bryant’s opposition, Hood’s office asked to withdraw as counsel to Bryant in the case “because [Hood and Bryant] have differing views regarding how to respond to the [same-sex couples]’ motion,” according to the filing obtained by Buzzfeed.

Hood also sent the court a letter on Tuesday asking that they affirm the Supreme Court’s ruling.

Clerks in Mississippi began to issue marriage licenses to gay couples on Monday after Hood ordered them to do so.

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Notable Replies

  1. Damn. Poor Jim.

    This whole story is a plaintive “Look, can I PLEASE stop having to defend this guy?”

  2. Avatar for caltg caltg says:

    Jim Hood: At least there is one voice of sanity in the South.

  3. So…The Governor’s ‘Hood’ is off…irony.

  4. I agree with caltg but on further note… why are the ‘fiscal conservatives’ continually trying to throw good money after bad by trying to find a unicorn??

    YOU LOST!!!

    get over it

  5. Smart. He knows he doesn’t want to be on the wrong side of history.

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