The Latest: Documents written by Alabama justice released

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Latest on the ethics case against Alabama’s chief justice (all times local):

2:45 p.m.

Newly released documents show Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore urged fellow justices to action after the U.S. Supreme Court effectively legalized gay marriage nationwide.

Court papers filed Tuesday show that Moore asked the other justices to clarify the state’s position in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling.

The documents show that Moore cited Kentucky court clerk and gay-marriage opponent Kim Davis in claiming that Christians who oppose same-sex weddings could be forced to give up their public jobs. Moore also quoted Shakespeare, a Nazi opponent from 1940s Germany and internet postings in asking fellow court members to act.

Moore is suspended from his job awaiting trial on judicial ethics charges of improperly issuing an order on same-sex marriage.

___

7:33 a.m.

A court has set a tentative date for the trial of suspended Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore.

An order released Monday by the Alabama Court of the Judiciary says Moore’s trial on judicial ethics charges will begin Sept. 28 if the case isn’t over before then.

The case could come to an earlier end if the court agrees with judicial prosecutors and removes Moore based on legal arguments.

Moore opposes a move by prosecutors to have him ousted without a trial. A hearing is set for Aug. 8, and judges have told Moore to submit additional documents by Tuesday afternoon.

Moore is a Christian who opposes same-sex marriage. He is accused of wrongly issuing an order in defiance of the U.S. Supreme Court decision that effectively legalized gay marriage nationwide.