1140460 Valerie Bradford Davis (Clarke County) Response

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Honorable Julia Jordan WellerClerk Of The Court

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF ALABAMA

Ex parte S t a t e of Alabama

ex rel. Alabama P o l i c y

I n s t i t u t e , et al..

P e t i t i o n e r s

v. No. 1140460

Alan L. K i n g , 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 dated March 3,

2015, C l a r k e County Pr ob at e Judge V a l e r i e Bradford Davis

("Respondent") h er eb y re spo nds t o and answers the

Emergency P e t i t i o n f o r Writ of Mandamus f i l e d by the S t a t e

of Alabama on the r e l a t i o n of Alabama P o l i c y I n s t i t u t e ,

and Alabama C i t i z e n s A c t i o n Program ( " P e t i t i o n " ) . To the

extent r e q u i r e d by the Court's re-ali gnment of Elmo re

Count y Pro ba te Judge John Enslen, Respondent i n t e n d s t h i s

f i l i n g 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. Respo ndent ad mi ts th e a l l e g a t i o n s of paragraph 1.





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5. Respondent admits the a l l e g a t i o n s of paragraph 5.




9. Respond ent i s not p r o p e r l y i n c l u d e d as one of th e

other 63 pro bat e judges on the ground t h a t she "may i s s u e ,

or may have i s s u e d , marriage l i c e n s e s t o same-sex couples

i n Alabama as a r e s u l t o f " i n j u n c t i o n s i s s u e d by the U.S.

D i s t r i c t Court f o r the Southern D i s t r i c t of Alabama as of

the date of th e P e t i t i o n .

10. Re sponden t i s without s u f f i c i e n t i n f o r m a t i o n t o

admit o r deny th e a l l e g a t i o n s of Paragraph 10.

11. Respondent i s without s u f f i c i e n t i n f o r m a t i o n t o

admit o r deny th e a l l e g a t i o n s of Paragraph 11.

I I . RESPONSE TO STATEMENT OF REASONS WHY THE WRIT SHOULD

ISSUE

1. In accord w i t h the d i s c r e t i o n c o nf e rr e d by A l a .

Code § 30-1-9, Respondent does no t i s s u e marriage l i c e n s e s

t o anyone. She has not done so s i n c e e a r l y February 2015.

Respondent i s no t one of thos e judges who may i s s u e , or

may have i s s u e d , marriage l i c e n s e s t o same-sex couples.

Therefore, she denies t h a t she i s due t o be e n j o i n e d by

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t h i s Court t e m p o r a r i l y , or otherwise, from i s s u i n g

marriage l i c e n s e s or to i s s u e marriage l i c e n s e s .

2. Respondent does not understand the R e l a t o r s t o

have accused he r of i s s u i n g marriage l i c e n s e s t o cou ples

other than one man and one woman.

3. Respondent f u r t h e r answers t h a t her r e l i g i o u s

b e l i e f s make i t u n l i k e l y t ha t she w i l l use he r d i s c r e t i o n

to issue marriage l i c e n s e s at a l l . The o f f i c i a l 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 i s informed by A l a .

Const., art. I, § 3.01, which r e s p e c t s her freedom of

r e l i g i o n . Respondent pos ses ses a r e l i g i o u s b e l i e f th at th e

term "marriage" has a l i m i t e d scope, and r e f e r s o n l y to an

agreement between one man and one woman. S e c t i o n 3.01,

V(a) bars government from bu rd en in g Respondent's freedom

of r e l i g i o n , absent a compelling governmental i n t e r e s t

which i s f u r t h e r e d by the means l e a s t r e s t r i c t i v e of

Respondent's freedom. Fo rc ed c e r t i f i c a t i o n by Respondent,

i n the form of a l i c e n s e , f u r t h e r s no compelling

governmental i n t e r e s t ; l i c e n s i n g by Respondent i s not the

o n l y means by which pers ons o th er than one man and one

woman can c l a i m to have a marriage. I t i s proper f o r

Alabama law to accommodate the r e l i g i o u s b e l i e f of a

p u b l i c o f f i c i a l by l i m i t i n g the scope of her o f f i c i a l

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a c t i v i t i e s i n a way t h a t does not s u b s t a n t i a l l y i m p a i r

government f u n c t i o n s .

4. Respondent f u r t h e r answers t h a t t h e f e d e r a l

R e l i g i o u s Freedom R e s t o r a t i o n A c t , 42 U.S.C. § 2000bb et

seq. ("RFRA"), b a r s a l l Departments of th e f e d e r a l

"government" from c o m p e l l i n g her to a f f i r m t h a t persons

o t h e r than one man and one woman e n t e r an agreement termed

" m a r r i a g e . " Id., §§ 2000bb-1(a), 2000bb-2( 1). 1 The s t a t u t e

" a p p l i e s t o a l l f e d e r a l law , and th e i m p l e m e n t a t i o n of

t h a t law, whether s t a t u t o r y or o t h e r w i s e . . . . " Id. §

2000bb-3(a). The f e d e r a l RFRA s t a t u t e g u i de s th e e q u i t a b l e

power o f c o u r t s c r e a t e d by Congress, and, a t th e v e r y

l e a s t , c o u n s e ls a g a i n s t f e d e r a l j u d i c i a l r e l i e f 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 n o t s u b j e c t t o any o r d e r of any

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

o r d e r of th e f e d e r a l d i s t r i c t c o u r t i n t h e cases c i t e d i n

t h e P e t i t i o n would r e q u i r e 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 , " t h e A r t [ i c l e ] I I I requirements

15ee 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 requirement 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 c h a p l a i n s u r g i n g

congregants t o communicate w i t h Congress about pending

a n t i - a b o r t i o n l e g i s l a t i o n ) .

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of st an di ng are not s a t i s f i e d b y ' th e a b s t r a c t i n j u r y i n

nonobservance o f t h e C o n s t i t u t i o n a s s e r t e d b y ...

c i t i z e n s . ' " Valley Forge C h r i s t i a n College v. Americans

United for Separation of Church and State, 454 U.S. 464

( 1 9 8 2 ) ( c o m p l a i n t about g i v i n g government p r o p e r t y t o

r e l i g i o u s g r o u p ) . Second, i n a p r o p e r l y f i l e d case, the

j u d i c i a l r e c o g n i t i o n o f an exemption on the b a s i s o f

r e l i g i o u s b e l i e f from the op e r a t i o n of a law - which

o t h e r w i s e r e f l e c t s no s p e c i f i c exemption i n the t e x t of

t h e s t a t u t e - i s n o t an e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f r e l i g i o n . See

Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, 134 S. C t . 2751 (2014)

( f e d e r a l s t a t u t e may n o t r e q u i r e h e a l t h c a r e c o n t r a r y t o

r e l i g i o u s b e l i e f s ) .2

6. As a g a i n s t Respondent, the March 3 Order of t h i s

Court exceeds i t s j u r i s d i c t i o n , and any t r a d i t i o n a l

u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f e q u i t a b l e power. See White v. John, 2014

WL 4798923 at *13 ( A l a . Sept. 26, 2014). As a ga in st

Respondent, th e March 3 Order i s an u n a u t h o r i z e d a d v i s o r y

o p i n i o n because i t w i l l not redress any harm a r i s i n g from

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Cf., Caperton v. A.T. Massey Coal Co., 556 U.S. 868

( 2 0 0 9 ) ( p a r t i a l temporary suspension 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 campaign speech); 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

f o r o f f i c i a l speech of judge c r i t i c i z i n g a p p e l l a t e

d e c i s i o n ) .

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the ex erc ise of Respondent's d i s c r e t i o n conferred by A l a .

Code § 30-1-9. And, standing i s not dispensed i n gross.

7. To the extent th at Judge Enslen has been r e

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 or

as r e l a t o r f o r the State o f Alabama, Respo ndent r e - a f f i r m s

the previous pa ra gr ap hs as he r answer.

R e s p e c t f u l l y submitted on March 10, 2015.

/s/ Albert L. Jordan

A l b e r t L. Jordan (JOR002)

/s/ Susan E. McPherson

Susan E. McPherson (MCP014)

OF COUNSEL:

Wallace Jordan R a t l i f f &^ 4 - T T r<

Brandt, LLC

Post O f f i c e Box 530910

Bir min gha m, AL 35233-0910

Telephone: (205) 874-0305

F a c s i m i l e : (205) 874-3250bjordan@wallacej ordan.com

Attorneys f o r Respondent

C l a r k e County Probate Judge V a l e r i e Br ad fo rd Davis

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http://ordan.com/http://ordan.com/


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C e r t i f i c a t e of Servi ce

I c e r t i f y t h a t I have on March 10, 2015, s e r v e d a

copy of th e f o r e g o i n g Response t o Emergency P e t i t i o n f o r

W r i t of Mandamus on a l l c ou ns el by th e C o u r t ' s e l e c t r o n i c -

f i l i n g system, e - m a i l , or by U.S. M a i l , postage p r e p a i d

and addressed 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 , Es q.

SATTERWHITE & TYLER, LLC

1325 Dauphin S t r e e t

M o b i l e , Alabama 36604

Shannon P. M i n t e r , Es q.

C h r i s t o p h e r F. S t o l l , Es q.

NATIONAL CENTER FOR

LESBIAN RIGHTS

1100 H S t r e e t , NW

S u i t e 540

Washington, DC 20005

Heather Fann, Es q.

BOYD, FERNAMBUCQ, DUNN &

FANN, P.C.3500 B l u e Lake D r i v e ,

S u i t e 220

Birmingham, Alabama 35243

Mark S. Boardman, Es q.

C l a y R. C a r r , Es q.

Teresa B. P e t e l o s , Es q.

BOARDMAN, CARR, BENNETT,

WATKINS, HILL & GAMBLE,

P.C.

400 Boardman D r i v eC h e l s e a , Alabama 35043

Robert D. S e g a l l , Es q.

COPELAND, FRANCO, SCREWS &

GILL, P.A.

P.O. Box 347

Montgomery, AL 36101-0347

R a n d a l l C. M a r s h a l l , Es q.

ACLU FOUNDATION OF ALABAMA

P.O. Box 6179l\/r^V-S 4- ^ ^ V V ^ ^ T^ TT 7\ "

ACLU FOUNDATION OF

P.O.

Montgomery, Alabama 36106

Lee L. H a l e , Esq.

HALE AND HUGHES

501 Church S t r e e t

M o b i l e , Alabama 36602

James W. D a v i s , Es q.

Laura E. H o w e l l , Esq.

OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY

GENERAL

S t a t e of Alabama

501 Washington AvenueMontgomery, Alabama 36130

A

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. E r i c J o h n s t o n , Esq.

200 C o r p o r a t e D r i v e

S u i t e 107

Birmingham, Alabama 35242

Samuel J . McLure, Es q.

THE ADOPTION LAW FIRM

P.O. Box 2396


Mathew D. S t a v e r , Es q.

H o r a t i o G. M i h e t , Esq.

Roger K. Gannam, Esq.

LIBERTY COUNSEL

P.O. BOX 5407 74

Orlando, FL 32854-0774

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Thomas T. G a l l i o n , Esq.

Constance C. Walker, Esq.

HASKELL SLAUGHTER &

GALLION, LLC

8 Commerce S t r e e t ,

S u i t e 1200Montgomery, AL 36104

Tyrone C. Means, Esq.

H. Lewis G i l l i s , Esq.

K r i s t e n G i l l i s , Esq.

MEANS GILLIS LAW, LLC

P.O. Box 5058

Montgomery, AL 36103

Mark E n g l e h a r t , Esq.

ENGLEHART LAW OFFICES9457 A l s b u r y P l a c e


George W. Royer, J r . , Esq.

Brad A. Chynoweth, Esq.

LANIER FORD SHAVER &

PAYNE, P.C.

P.O. Box 2087

H u n t s v i l l e , AL 35804

K e n d r i c k Webb, Esq.Jamie H. K i d d , Esq.

F r e d L. Clements, Esq.

WEBB & ELEY, PC

P.O. Box 240909


J e f f r e y S e w e l l , Esq.

French M c M i l l a n , Esq.

SEWELL, SEWELL, MCMILLAN,

LLC

1841 2nd Ave., Ste.

J a s p e r , AL 35501-5359

214

Greg Hawley, Esq.

C h r i s N i c h o l s o n , Esq.

JONES & HAWLEY, PC

2001 Park P l Ste. 830

Birmingham, AL 35203-2735

Ayesha Khan, Esq.

AMERICANS UNITED FOR

SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND

STATE1301 K. S t r e e t , N.W.

Washington, DC 20005

J . R i c h a r d Cohen, Esq.

D a v i d D i n i e l l i , Esq.

SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW

CENTER

400 Washington Avenue


L. Dean Johnson, Esq.L. DEAN JOHNSON, PC

4030 B a l m o r a l Dr. SWO C (H u n t s v i l l e , AL 35801

s/ Albert L. Jordan

Of Counsel

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1140460 Valerie Bradford Davis (Clarke County) Response