US Supreme Court Rejects Kim Davis’ Appeal on Same-Sex Marriage
The United States Supreme Court declined to hear the appeal of Kim Davis, the former Kentucky county clerk who sought to overturn the 2015 ruling legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide.
On Monday, 10 November, the justices issued a brief, unsigned order rejecting Davis’ petition without comment. This decision leaves the Obergefell v. Hodges ruling in place, which guarantees same-sex couples the constitutional right to marry under the 14th Amendment.
No dissenting opinions were recorded, and the court did not provide any explanation for its decision.
Background on Kim Davis
Davis gained national attention in 2015 after she refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, citing her religious convictions, following the Supreme Court’s decision in Obergefell v. Hodges.
This refusal resulted in legal action by David Moore and David Ermold, a couple repeatedly denied a license by Davis and her deputies. After Davis defied a federal court order to comply, she was briefly jailed for contempt of court.
Though a deputy clerk eventually issued the license to the couple, Moore and Ermold pursued damages for the emotional distress caused by Davis’ actions.
- A jury awarded each man $50,000 in damages.
- Davis was ordered to pay $260,000 in legal fees.
“The court left intact the decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, which established that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry under the 14th Amendment.”
Author’s summary: The Supreme Court's refusal to hear Kim Davis’ appeal upholds the constitutional right of same-sex couples to marry and affirms the lasting impact of Obergefell v. Hodges.