The 6th Circuit Court of Appeals denied Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis request for a stay pending the appeal of her case. The Rowan County Clerk has stopped issuing marriage licenses to all couples, in an attempt to keep same gender couples from obtaining them.
The courts ruling states in part, "In light of the binding holding of Obergefell, it cannot be defensibly argued that the holder of the Rowan County Clerk’s office, apart from who personally occupies that office, may decline to act in conformity with the United States Constitution as interpreted by a dispositive holding of the United States Supreme Court. There is thus little or no likelihood that the Clerk in her official capacity will prevail on appeal."
Read the court's full ruling here.
Reaction on the ruling from ACLU of Kentucky Legal Director, William Sharp:
While government employees do not give up their religious liberty upon accepting public employment, they cannot withhold government services because they have personal religious objections to individuals receiving those services. Properly understood, religious liberty is a shield that protect individuals from the government, not a sword with which the government, through its employees, may impose particular religious views on others. We are pleased that the 6th Circuit recognized the fundamental error of Davis’ claims, and we look forward to continue representing our clients in this important case.
August 26, 2015 - 4:55pm
