URGENT UPDATE: The Supreme Court has just denied former Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis’s petition to appeal a $100,000 damages award linked to her refusal to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. This ruling comes as Davis sought to challenge the landmark 2015 decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, which affirmed marriage rights for LGBTQ couples nationwide.
The court announced its decision on Monday without providing any explanation, marking a significant moment in the ongoing debate over marriage equality in the United States. Davis gained international notoriety for her 2015 defiance against the Supreme Court ruling, which led to her jailing for six days after she refused to issue a marriage license to a same-sex couple citing her religious beliefs.
In her petition filed in August 2023, Davis argued that First Amendment protections for the free exercise of religion shield her from personal liability for not issuing marriage licenses. She claimed the Obergefell ruling was based on a “legal fiction” and should be reconsidered. However, lower courts previously dismissed her claims, and most legal experts considered her appeal unlikely to succeed.
A jury had previously awarded the same-sex couple involved in the case a total of $360,000, which included $100,000 for emotional damages and $260,000 for attorney fees. This ruling has now been upheld following the Supreme Court’s latest decision.
Davis’ appeal arrives amid a renewed campaign by conservative groups to challenge marriage rights for same-sex couples, advocating for states to have the authority to set their own policies. As this story develops, it may influence future legal battles over LGBTQ rights across the country.
Stay tuned for updates on this significant ruling, as it continues to reverberate in the landscape of American civil rights.
