This is the fiftieth (50th) anniversary of the March 7, 1965 “Bloody Sunday March” in Selma at which the 800 civil rights marchers led by John Lewis, Hosea Williams, Albert Turner and Bob Mants were beaten at the foot of the bridge.

President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle will be in Selma on Saturday for a rally at the eastern side of the Edmund Pettus Bridge from 11:00 AM to 1:30PM in support of voting rights.

According to the White House press office, “This event is open to members of the general public. Tickets are not required to attend the President’s remarks. Although a ticket is not required for attendance, access to the event will be granted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Guests must access the event from the intersection of Selma Avenue and Church Street. Doors will open to the public at 8:30 AM on Saturday, March 7.

All attendees will go through airport-like security and should bring as few personal items as possible. No bags, sharp objects, umbrellas, liquids, or signs will be permitted.”

The Alabama Supreme Court this week became the first state high court in the nation to challenge a federal court order allowing same-sex marriage, legal experts say.

Alabama Supreme Court justices on Tuesday ordered a halt to gay marriage licensing in the state.

"Not only are we the first state to do that, our motto is 'we dare defend our rights'," Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore said in an interview with AL.com.

"I can't explain why more than 20 other states have bowed down to unlawful federal authority but Alabama is not one of them," Moore said. "A federal judge has no authority to overturn a state constitutional amendment in the face of a state court's opinion on the same matter"

Moore said he has seen some media refer to the fact that 37 states have legalized same-sex marriage. He said that's wrong.

Only three states have adopted same-sex marriage by referendum of the people, several state legislatures passed laws allowing it, and seven or eight state supreme courts and federal district orders in about 20 states have been issued to toss out bans and allow it.

State courts don't have to follow lower federal court - district and circuit - rulings, Moore said. "While their rulings may be persuasive authority, they are not controlling," he said.

Moore argues no federal court - not even the U.S. Supreme Court - has the authority to re-invent the definition of words, such as "family" and "marriage," for a state. "Those policies are domestic and left to the states," he said, citing several cases.