The U.S. Supreme Court has refused to hear former Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis’s appeal, effectively leaving the 2015 landmark same-sex marriage ruling intact. The court issued its decision without comment, allowing a lower court judgment against Davis to stand.
Davis, who gained national attention in 2015 for refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples due to her religious beliefs, had sought to overturn the ruling that required her to perform her official duties. The appeal originated from a lawsuit filed by couples denied licenses, with a federal court holding Davis liable for damages – a decision later upheld by the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
In her petition, Davis argued that the Obergefell v. Hodges decision conflicted with her religious freedoms as a public official. By rejecting the appeal, the Supreme Court has preserved the legal precedent established by Obergefell and reaffirmed that public officials must carry out their responsibilities regardless of personal beliefs. This ruling allows the couples affected by Davis’s actions to continue pursuing monetary compensation under the lower court’s judgment.
The decision underscores the principle that government duties, including issuing marriage licenses, must be performed without discrimination, ensuring marriage equality remains fully protected nationwide.
