A new round of firings within the Alabama Supreme Court have prompted embattled former Chief Justice Roy Moore to again take aim at his successor.
The latest reaction comes after Moore discovered that interim Chief Justice Lyn Stuart fired two more court employees who had worked under the former judge. Reportedly, the Administrative Director of Courts and the Administrative Office of Courts’ legal counsel, who served under Moore’s first term, were “fired without notice” on November 3rd.
Moore’s legal team says that the firings aren’t just a matter of supposed personal vendetta- they are also premature, given the former judge’s pending appeal.
“Justice Lyn Stuart’s actions are disturbing because this case is on appeal but she is acting like the case has been decided. Does she know something we don’t? Considering all the irregularities that have transpired thus far it makes you wonder,” said Mat Staver, Moore’s legal counsel.
Just weeks ago, three other law clerks who were hired by Moore were also handed a pink slip. During that time, Moore was also asked to clean out his office.
“The hostile treatment of Chief Justice Moore, the demand he remove his personal effects and the abrupt termination of five people raises serious concerns. Justice Stuart is telegraphing to the special court how she expects them to rule. This is inappropriate,” Staver added.
Moore was suspended without pay in September for his defiance of the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on same-sex marriage. The Alabama Court of the Judiciary found that Moore’s order instructing probate judges to ignore the U.S. Supreme Court’s holding violated judicial ethics. He now awaits a hearing from a “Special Supreme Court,” which is made up of seven retired judges.