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)
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

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.

Latest Livewire
Comments
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Associate Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: