Court Denies Kentucky County Clerk’s Request to Continue Refusing Marriage Licenses
Federal Appeals Court Order Holds Religious ‘Opt-Out’ Claim Unlikely to Prevail
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A federal appeals court today denied Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis’ request for a stay on the order requiring that she issue marriage licenses to couples in the case Miller v. Davis.
On August 12, U.S. District Judge David Bunning ruled that plaintiffs in this case must be able to obtain marriage licenses in Rowan County. Davis proceeded to appeal the decision to the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and asked for a stay pending appeal.
The following comment may be attributed to William Sharp, legal director of the ACLU of Kentucky:
“This case is simple. Religious liberty certainly does not allow public officials to deny government services to the public based on their personal beliefs. All that Davis is required to do in her official capacity as clerk is issue a form. In no way is she being forced to endorse anyone’s marriage or beliefs. The 6th Circuit recognized this fundamental violation of our clients’ rights in denying the stay.”
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