Justices turn away appeal from former Kentucky court clerk who refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples

The supreme court on Monday rejected a call to overturn its landmark decision that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide.

The justices, without comment, turned away an appeal from Kim Davis, the former Kentucky court clerk who refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples after the high court’s 2015 ruling in Obergefell v Hodges.

Davis had been trying to get the court to overturn a lower-court order for her to pay $360,000 in damages and attorney’s fees to a couple denied a marriage license.

  • Archangel1313@lemmy.caEnglish
    121·
    2 months ago

    This isn’t necessarily a rebuke of her position on gay marriage…only that they are letting the settlement decision against her, stand. She did violate their rights according to the law, so she must pay the damages.

  • Arghblarg@lemmy.caEnglish
    7·
    2 months ago

    … for now. It probably just wasn’t the ‘right’ case to let them weasel their way around to doing it.

  • shalafi@lemmy.worldEnglish
    5·
    2 months ago

    Told ya they’d drop it with no comment. It’s a weak case to begin with and not one they want to set precedent upon.

    • Wren@lemmy.todayOPMEnglish
      4·
      2 months ago

      It was weak, but the fact it gained so much support is troubling. There are well funded interest groups who look for worthy contenders to puppet against the supreme court for these kinds of challenges.

      Her lawyers are part of it: https://lc.org/

  • vigiv83673@sh.itjust.worksBannedEnglish
    4·
    2 months ago

    Good news, but not a celebration parade yet. The court punted on Kim Davis and left Obergefell standing, which means marriages keep happening and people who refused to follow the law are still on the hook. That accountability matters.

    Still, I’m pissed the court didn’t just come out and reinforce the precedent. Between Clarence Thomas openly saying Obergefell should go and Barrett hinting at “correcting mistakes,” the threat to rights is real. Turning down an appeal is not the same as a clear, principled defense of equality.

    So yeah, breathe easier today, but don’t relax. Courts change, and rights that depend on fragile majorities can be chipped away. Keep voting, keep litigating, and don’t let this be the moment everyone stops paying attention.