Kentucky clerk Kim Davis defies Supreme Court, refuses to issue marriage licenses despite denial to hear her appeal

Davis said she was acting in accordance with "God's authority"

Published September 1, 2015 12:07PM (EDT)

(Updated: See below)

Late Monday, the United States Supreme Court rejected the appeal of Rowan County Kentucky Clerk Kim Davis, who had argued that the her sincerely held religious beliefs should preclude her from issuing marriages to same-sex couples.

The Court denied her request without explanation, and no dissents were noted, indicating that it largely agreed with an earlier decision made by the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals last week, which ruled that "[i]t 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."

Davis had stopped issuing all marriages, so as to not appear to be discriminating against same-sex couples -- although she did accidentally issue a marriage license to a transgender man and his wife earlier this year -- and she was being sued by gay and straight couples alike for failing to do perform her appointed duties.

As for whether she will do so on Tuesday, her lawyer, Mat Staver, told the Associated Press on Monday that "she's going to have to think and pray about her decision overnight. She certainly understands the consequences either way. She'll report to work tomorrow, to face whatever it is she has to face."

Update: According to the Associated Press, Davis arrived at work Tuesday and refused to issue marriage licenses, citing "God's authority." Here is a brief clip of Davis in action via Twitter:

Watch Davis explain her motivations at a rally below via Kentucky.com.

Kentucky Clerk Denies Marriage Licenses


By Scott Eric Kaufman

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Aol_on Kentucky Kim Davis Lgbtq Rights Same-sex Marriage Supreme Court Video