Judge Roy Moore Suspended over Gay Marriage

Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore has been suspended without pay for the rest of his term after refusing to grant marriage licenses to same-sex couples in Alabama.

Moore called the decision corrupt. His term ends in 2019, and at 69 years old he will be barred from running again due to his age.

"This was a politically motivated effort by radical homosexual and transgender groups to remove me as chief justice of the Supreme Court because of outspoken opposition to their immoral agenda," Moore said. 

Matt Staver, Moore's lawyer and the founder of Liberty Counsel, has fought against same-sex marriage and called the decision illegal. 

Some are saying this will help Moore's career as a politician and that it could be the beginning of a gubernatorial 2018 race.

The decision is said to be a "political win" for Moore's potential candidacy for governor, according to Alabama online.

"He's positioned to have a pretty good leg up on the competition," Natalie Davis, a political science professor at Birmingham-Southern College, said.

"I think he knows that the commission's decision helps him, but also he's committed to these kinds of positions. He hasn't deviated. He's not a flip-flop. That is appealing to the Alabama electorate. Alabamians do not want to be told what to do. In a way, that's how they've been governed for many years," Davis added. 

According to Davis, Moore is very favorable in the polls.

"If you're looking for the elected official or political figure in the state who has the most favorable ratings, it's Roy Moore. So he starts off even with this hanging over him in a pretty good position if he seeks the governorship."

A poll from July showed Moore leading the potential gubernatorial candidates with about 28 percent support.