Former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore has issued or participated in hundreds of decisions during his two terms on the Alabama Supreme Court, but he is primarily defined by his stances on two issues - the Ten Commandments and gay marriage.
His refusal to remove the Ten Commandments from the Alabama Supreme Court resulted in his removal from the high court in 2003 and a complaint issued by the Alabama Judicial Inquiry Commission regarding his public stances and orders on same-sex marriage saw him suspended from the bench for the rest of his term in 2016.
He’s twice lost bids for Alabama governor over the years and in 2017 lost in a narrow vote to Doug Jones in a special election for U.S. Senate after allegations of sexual misconduct arose.
Now, on Thursday June 20, 2019, it appears he may announce he wants to run again for the same U.S. Senate seat.
Complete coverage of Roy Moore's charges, his suspension, his run for Senate and history of his career.
From al.com and the Associated Press
A Roy Moore timeline: From Ten Commandments to Gay Marriage
AP File Photo
1992-1995 Controversy over Ten Commandments plaque in Etowah County
1992 – 1995 Alabama Gov. Guy Hunt appoints Roy Moore as circuit judge in Etowah County in 1992. Moore hangs a wooden Ten Commandments plaque which he had carved in his courtroom. In 1995 the American Civil Liberties Union sues Moore, claiming the plaque and courtroom prayers are unconstitutional. The state of Alabama files suit seeking a declaratory judgment that Moore’s display is constitutional. Both suits are dismissed.
Etowah County Circuit Judge Roy S. Moore addresses the media in front of a wood carving of the Ten Commandments in his courtroom at the Etowah County Courthouse on Feb. 7, 1997. (AP file photo)
Jan. 15, 2001: Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore is sworn into office with a pledge: "God's law will be publicly acknowledged in our court."
Moore had already stirred controversy as an Etowah County Circuit judge over hanging a wooden plaque of the Ten Commandments in his courtroom. He won the 2000 election for chief justice.
(AP Photo/Kevin Glackmeyer)
July 31, 2001: Moore installs Ten Commandments monument in the rotunda during the night without telling the eight associate justices, but allowing a Christian television ministry to film it. Moore says, "To restore morality we must first recognize the source from which all morality springs." AL.com file photo
July 2001 Roy Moore has Ten Commandment monument installed at Alabama Supreme Court building
Oct. 30, 2001: Lawsuits are filed on behalf of three lawyers seeking removal of the monument from the Alabama Judicial Building. The suits say the monument "constitutes an impermissible endorsement of religion by the state."
October 2001: Lawsuits filed to remove monument
File photo
Nov. 18, 2002: U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson of Montgomery orders the monument removed for violating the constitution's ban on government establishment of religion. He wrote, "The Ten Commandments monument, viewed alone or in the context of its history, placement, and location, has the primary effect of endorsing religion."
November 2002: Federal Judge orders monument removed
U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson File Photo
July 1, 2003: Three-judge panel of 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously rejects Moore's appeal of Thompson's ruling. The court visualizes what might happen if Moore's monument were allowed: "Every government building could be topped with a cross, or a menorah, or a statue of Buddha, depending upon the views of the officials with authority over the premises."
Just over a month later, on Aug. 5, 2003, Thompson gives Moore an Aug. 20 deadline to remove the monument from its public setting in the rotunda, or face the possibility of fines against the state.
File photo
July 2003: Federal appeals court rejects Moore's appeal of Thompson's ruling
Aug. 14, 2003: Moore says he has "no intention" of removing the monument, and lawyers suing to have it moved file a complaint against Moore with the Alabama Judicial Inquiry Commission for defying a federal court order.
(Photo AP Photo/Dave Martin)
August 2003: Roy Moore says he won't remove monument despite court order
Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore makes a statement to reporters at the State Judicial Building in Montgomery, Ala., Thursday, Aug. 14, 2003. Moore announced his decision to defy a federal court order to remove the Ten Commandments monument from public display in the building. At right is his wife Kayla.
Aug. 20, 2003: Moore refuses to move monument by deadline after losing pleas to the U.S. Supreme Court and 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. A crowd of monument supporters grows at the building; some are arrested for refusing to leave the monument.
Aug. 21, 2003: Associate Justices of Alabama Supreme Court unanimously overrule Moore and order the monument moved by the building's manager. The eight justices write that they are "bound by solemn oath to follow the law, whether they agree or disagree with it."
Aug. 22, 2003: State Judicial Inquiry Commission charges Moore with violating six canons of ethics for disobeying a federal court order to move the monument. He is suspended with pay pending trial before the Alabama Court of the Judiciary.
(AP Photos/Dave Martin)
Aug. 20-22, 2003: Protests in favor of keeping the monument grows; Alabama justices order monument's removal and Roy Moore suspended after complaint
Aug. 25, 2003: Monument supporters file suit in federal court in Mobile seeking to block the monument's removal. It is filed on behalf of two Alabama residents described as Christians who believe "the United States was founded upon Jesus Christ" and their freedom of religion is being violated.
An emotional Moore. who was on suspension, wipes his face during an address to supporters in front of the State Judicial Building in Montgomery that same day. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
Aug. 27, 2003: The monument is moved out of the rotunda of the Judicial Building to comply with the federal court order. A federal judge cancels a hearing on the lawsuit filed by monument supporters seeking to block the monument's removal. (Photo Mobile Register, Mike Kittrell)
Aug. 25 & 27 2003: Ten Commandments supporters file lawsuit; monument removed
Nov. 13, 2003: Alabama Court of the Judiciary unanimously orders Moore removed from office as chief justice. Nine days earlier the U.S. Supreme Court had refused to hear Moore's appeal.
November 2003: Moore is removed from the bench by the Alabama Court of the Judiciary
Moore arrives inside the Alabama Supreme Court chamber to hear his verdict before the Alabama Court of the Judiciary in Montgomery, Ala., on Thursday, Nov. 13, 2003. Moore was removed from office for refusing to follow a federal court order to remove his Ten Commandments monument from the building. (AP Photo/Mickey Welsh, Pool)
June 6, 2006: Moore loses bid for Republican nomination for Alabama governor to incumbent Bob Riley.
June 2006: Moore loses bid for Republican nomination for Alabama governor
Moore speaks at a news conference, Friday, Jan. 6, 2006, in Birmingham, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
June 1, 2010: Moore loses bid for Republican nomination for Alabama governor, this time to Robert Bentley who won in a runoff against another candidate.
Kent Faulk | kfaulk@al.com
June 2010: Moore loses bid for Republican nomination for Alabama governor
Former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore, left, and his wife Kayla ride their horses back to their farm after voting at the Gallant Volunteer Fire Department, Tuesday, June 1, 2010, west of Attalla, Ala. (AP Photo/ Gadsden Times, Marc Golden)
Jan. 11, 2013: Moore is sworn in as Chief Justice a second time. "We've got to remember that most of what we do in court comes from some scripture or is backed by scripture," Moore says after taking the oath of office.
Kent Faulk | kfaulk@al.com
January 2013: Moore sworn in for a second time as Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court
Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore puts on his robe with the help of his wife, Kayla, after being sworn into office Friday, Jan. 11, 2013, at the Heflin-Torbert Judicial Building in Montgomery, Ala. (Julie Bennett / jbennett@al.com)
Jan. 23, 2015: U.S. District Judge Callie V.S. "Ginny" Granade rules Alabama's marriage laws outlawing same-sex marriage is unconstitutional. She gives the state of Alabama until Feb. 9, 2015 to win a stay from an appeals court or same-sex marriages can begin that day in Alabama.
Moore, who has long been publicly critical of same-sex marriage, is critical of Granade's ruling. "For one district judge to overturn the laws of Alabama -- she can't do that ... Federal rules don't allow her to do that," he says.
Kent Faulk | kfaulk@al.com
File Photo
Jan. 28, 2015: The Southern Poverty Law Center lodges the first of four complaints to the Judicial Inquiry Commission stating that Moore has violated judicial canons of ethics for his public comments on same-sex marriage. The complaint comes after Moore writes Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley and says he will stand with the governor "to stop judicial tyranny."
Kent Faulk | kfaulk@al.com
SPLC President Richard Cohen is critical of Moore's stance and actions in opposition to federal judge's order. FILE photo
Feb. 3, 2015: Moore writes an advisory letter and memorandum to the state's probate judges saying they are not required to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples despite Granade's ruling.That same day the SPLC files a supplement to its JIC complaint, citing comments Moore made about same-sex marriage on a radio talk show. Moore had responded "that's a very hard decision" when asked what he would do if the U.S. Supreme Court ruled state bans on same-sex marriage are unconstitutional.
Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore talks in an interview Friday, Feb. 13, 2015, in Montgomery, Ala. about his stance on gay marriage. (Julie Bennett/ jbennett@al.com)
Feb. 9, 2015: Some probate judges issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, while others don't.
Feb. 9, 2015: Some Alabama probate judges begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples
Adrian Thomas and Yashinari Effinger of Birmingham are first couple to to get license in Huntsville (AL.com File photo)
March 3, 2015: The Alabama Supreme Court orders probate judges to halt the issuance of same-sex marriage licenses. Roy Moore, without explanation, does not vote on that order. All 67 probate judges in the state halt the issuance of the licenses.
The order, called a writ of mandamus, had been requested by the Alabama Policy Institute and the Alabama Citizens Action Program, two groups that oppose same-sex marriage.
AL.com file photo
June 26, 2015: The U.S. Supreme Court, in a 5-4 majority opinion, legalized same-sex marriage nationwide.
The Foundation for Moral Law, which Moore founded, reacts in a press release, saying that the "the battle for traditional marriage will continue" despite the ruling.
"This means we've got more work to do, but we are determined to do it," said Foundation President Kayla Moore -- wife of Chief Justice Roy Moore. "The Foundation is involved with a same-sex marriage case in the Middle District of Alabama, and that case will continue. There are issues in this case that the Supreme Court's decision didn't resolve."
June 26, 2015: U.S. Supreme Court legalizes same-sex marriage nationwide
Carlos McKnight of Washington, waves a flag in support of gay marriage outside of the Supreme Court in Washington, Friday June 26, 2015. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
July 29, 2015: The SPLC files another supplement to its JIC complaint, stating that Moore was continuing to violate judicial ethics through numerous speeches suggesting the U.S. Supreme Court ruling legalizing same-sex marriage shouldn't be followed.
Photo/Mike Cason AL.com
Jan. 6, 2016: Roy Moore issues an administrative order to state probate judges advising them they "have a ministerial duty not to issue any marriage license contrary to the Alabama Sanctity of Marriage Amendment or the Alabama Marriage Protection Act" and adding that the orders by the Alabama Supreme Court from March 2015 - before the U.S. Supreme Court's decision - were still in effect.
The order is largely ignored by probate judges, although more than a half-dozen probate judges continue to issue any marriage licenses to same-sex or opposite sex couples to get around having to issue the licenses to gay couples.
That same day the Southern Poverty Law Center sends its third supplement to its original complaint to the Judicial Inquiry Commission saying that Moore "continues to flout and violate the Alabama Canons of Judicial Ethics."
Emma Kaitlin Hammer of Mobile, Ala., and dozens of others turned out for an "impeach RoyMoore" rally in front of Government Plaza in downtown Mobile, Ala., on Saturday Jan. 9, 2016. "I'm here because I think he has overstepped his bounds completely. Not only do I believe that anyone of age has the right to get married, the Supreme Court also agrees that everyone has the right to get married," said Emma Kaitlin Hammer of Mobile, Ala. (Sharon Steinmann/ssteinmann@al.com)
April 27, 2016: Roy Moore holds press conference and accuses the Southern Poverty Law Center and groups of "atheists, homosexuals and transgender individuals" of bringing a politically motivated complaint about his administrative order to probate judges not to issue same-sex marriage licenses gay marriage to the Judicial Inquiry Commission of Alabama.
Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore listens to Attorney Mat Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel, respond Wednesday, April 27, 2016, to complaints made against Moore in January by various groups protesting his administrative order explaining the legal status of the Alabama Sanctity of Marriage Act and the Alabama Marriage Protection Act in Montgomery, Ala. (Julie Bennett/jbennett@al.com)
May 6, 2016: The Alabama Judicial Inquiry Commission issues complaint against Moore. The move suspends Moore from the bench, with pay, while the charges are pending before the Alabama Court of the Judiciary. The court of judiciary could remove him from the chief justice job for the second time in his career.
"The Judicial Inquiry Commission has no authority over the Administrative Orders of the Chief Justice of Alabama or the legal injunction of the Alabama Supreme Court prohibiting probate judges from issuing same-sex marriage licenses. We intend to fight this agenda vigorously and expect to prevail," Moore stated after the complaint as filed.
JULIE BENNETT
Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore responds Wednesday, April 27, 2016, to complaints made in January by various groups protesting his administrative order explaining the legal status of the Alabama Sanctity of Marriage Act and the Alabama Marriage Protection Act in Montgomery, Ala. (Julie Bennett/jbennett@al.com)
Aug. 8, 2016: Court of the Judiciary denies Moore's request to dismiss charges; set Sept. 28 trial
The Alabama Court of the Judiciary denies Roy Moore's request to dismiss the Judicial Inquiry Commission judicial ethics charges. The COJ sets Sept. 28, 2016 for Moore's trial.
Mickey Welsh
Sept. 30, 2016: Moore is suspended for rest of term
The Alabama Court of the Judiciary ruled Moore was to be immediately suspended from office without pay after finding him guilty on the six charges that claimed he violated canons of judicial ethics regarding a Jan. 6 administrative order to the state's 68 probate judges. In this picture, Moore testifies during his ethics trial before the Alabama Court of the Judiciary at the Alabama Judicial Building in Montgomery on Sept. 28, 2016. (Mickey Welsh/Montgomery Advertiser via AP, Pool)
Kent Faulk | kfaulk@al.com
April 26, 2017: Roy Moore resigns and announces run for U.S. Senate
Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore and his wife Kayla, leave a press conference where he announced his plans to run for U.S. Senate Wednesday, April 26, 2017, on the steps of the Capitol in Montgomery, Ala. He had resigned the week before after special Alabama Supreme Court upholds his permanent suspension without pay for the remainder of his term. (Julie Bennett/jbennett@al.com)
Aug. 15, 2017: Roy Moore leads Luther Strange into primary runoff
Roy Moore gets about 40 percent of the vote in the Aug. 15, 2017 Republican Primary for U.S. Senate. He led U.S. Sen. Luther Strange, who had been appointed to the position after Jeff Sessions was confirmed at U.S. Attorney General earlier in the year.
Kent Faulk | kfaulk@al.com
Sept. 26, 2017: Roy Moore defeats Luther Strange to win Republican runoff
Roy Moore wins Republican Runoff for U.S. Senate seat after facing Donald Trump endorsement and visit for opponent Luther Strange. Moore had his own celebrities including political operative and Trump supporter Steve Bannon, Chuck Norris and Duck Dynasty's Phil Robertson.
Roy Moore was considered a virtual shoe-in to win the general election race after defeating Luther Strange in the Republican Primary. But then on Nov. 9 The Washington Post published a story saying that women had stepped forward to allege sexual misconduct against Moore when he was in his early 30s and they were in their teens - including Leigh Corfman who was 14 at the time. Moore denials varied during different interviews.
By the time election day rolled around a number of Republicans had distanced themselves from Moore or directly called for him to drop out. Others, most notably President Donald Trump and former White House adviser Steve Bannon, actively endorsed Moore.
During the controversy Democrat Doug Jones began gaining support from different sources, including celebrities, sports figures, and last minute robo calls from former President Barack Obama and former Vice President Joe Biden. Jones is the U.S. Attorney who prosecuted the KKK members responsible for the 1963 bombing of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church that killed four little girls.
Moore and his wife have said there were misinformation campaigns waged against Moore in the 2017 race. “In 2017, Republicans and Democrats alike conspired to defeat Judge Moore in the U.S. Senate special election,” a Facebook message in April 2019 from Kayla Moore said. "Groups spent upwards of $50 million dollars to spread falsehoods and deceit among Alabama voters.
2018 -- Since his defeat Moore has been involved with several lawsuits and countersuits involving his accusers and one in which he sued comedian Sacha Baron Cohen and Showtime for defamation.
Roy Moore talked with the audience Nov. 16, 2019, before speaking at the Republican Men's Club in Huntsville.
2019 - Moore announces 2020 campaign for U.S. Senate seat he lost to Doug Jones in 2017. Others in the race for the GOP nomination include Jeff Sessions, Bradley Byrne, Tommy Tuberville, Arnold Mooney, Stanley Adair and Ruth Page Nelson.
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