Judges will be named this week to hear suspended Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore's bid to return to the bench.
Alabama Supreme Court Acting Chief Justice Lyn Stuart says in a Tuesday order the judges for Moore's appeal will be randomly selected Thursday afternoon in a public proceeding at the Alabama Judicial Building.
A judicial panel last month suspended Moore for the remainder of his term after finding he urged state probate judges to defy the federal courts on gay marriage. Moore is appealing the decision.
Sitting justices recused themselves from hearing Moore's appeal because their impartiality might be questioned. Justices said a seven-member special Supreme Court will be randomly picked from a pool of retired appellate, circuit and district judges.