Court Refuses to Dismiss Ethics Complaint Against Moore

A state panel has refused to dismiss an ethics complaint against Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore, sending him to a trial-like proceeding on Sept. 28. The Court of the Judiciary on Monday denied Moore's request to dismiss the complaint that he violated ethical standards for judges with a January memo to probate judges regarding same-sex marriage. The court also denied the Judicial Inquiry's Commission's request to go ahead and remove Moore from office. Moore told probate judges in January that a March Alabama Supreme Court order to deny marriage licenses to gay couples remained in effect. The commission has accused Moore of urging probate judges to defy the courts on gay marriage. Moore said he was only noting the order had not been lifted.