U.S.
U.S. Court of Appeal on Wednesday rejects Kim Davis’s arguments for refusing to issue documents
Rowan County Kentucky Clerk Kim Davis PHOTO: TIMOTHY D. EASLEY/ASSOCIATED PRESS
Associated PressAug. 27, 2015 1:06 p.m. ET
MOREHEAD, Ky.—A Kentucky clerk’s office on Thursday again refused to issue a marriage license to a gay couple, only a day after a federal appeals court upheld a rulingdirecting the clerk to follow a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that legalized same-sex marriage.
Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis has refused to issue any marriage licenses, citing her Christian faith and constitutional right to religious freedom.
On Thursday morning, a deputy clerk in her office refused to issue a marriage license toWilliam Smith Jr. and James Yates. It was their third attempt to get a license.
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They said they would not give up. “They just don’t like gay people, they don’t want us to get married,” Mr. Yates said. “And they’d rather burn the earth and not let straight people in Rowan County get married either.”
On Wednesday, U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals rejected Ms. Davis’s’ arguments for refusing to issue the licenses, upholding a federal court judge’s order that the licenses be granted..
“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,” judges Damon J. Keith, John M. Rogers and Bernice B. Donald wrote for the court. “There is thus little or no likelihood that the clerk in her official capacity will prevail on appeal.”
Two weeks ago, U.S. District Judge David Bunning had ordered Ms. Davis to issue marriage licenses. He later delayed that ruling until Aug. 31 or until the appeals court issued a ruling.
But a deputy clerk in Ms. Davis’s office told Mr. Smith and Mr. Yates on Thursday that the office believes Judge Bunning’s delay remains in effect until Aug. 31. The deputy clerk refused to give his name or give them a license.
The American Civil Liberties Union sued Ms. Davis last month on behalf of April Miller and Karen Roberts, a second gay couple and two straight couples. A U.S. district judge ordered Ms. Davis to issue the marriage licenses, but later delayed his order so that she could have time to appeal to the 6th circuit.
April Miller, right, and her partner Karen Roberts on Wednesday embrace after reading the decision of the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals refusing to hear Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis' appeal ordering her to issue marriage licenses because of her religious beliefs in Morehead, Ky. PHOTO: TIMOTHY D. EASLEY/ASSOCIATED PRESS
Ms. Miller said they felt vindicated by the federal court ruling. They got out the boxes holding their matching wedding bands, bought days after the Supreme Court’s decision in June. They are simple white gold bands, ringed in diamonds. “One step closer,” Ms. Miller said. “We might be able to get married in September.”
Mat Staver, an attorney for Ms. Davis, said he was disappointed with the ruling. He said he plans to discuss options with Davis, including an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
“The court of appeals did not provide any religious accommodation rights to individuals, which makes little sense because at the end of the day it’s individuals that are carrying out the acts of the office,” Mr. Staver said. “They don’t lose their individual constitutional rights just because they are employed in a public office.”
Ms. Davis testified in federal court last month she would “deal with that when the time comes” Last Saturday, she spoke to thousands of supporters at a religious freedom rally at the state capitol, saying: “I need your prayers…to continue to stand firm in what we believe.”
“Regardless of what any man puts on a piece of paper, the law of nature is not going to change,” Ms. Davis told the crowd.
‘Religious liberty certainly does not allow public officials to deny government services to the public based on their personal beliefs.’—William Sharp, legal director of the ACLU of Kentucky
Ms. Davis has said she won’t resign. She can only be removed from office if the state legislature impeaches her, which is unlikely. If she continues to defy a federal court order, a judge could hold her in contempt and order hefty fines or jail time.
“Certainly none of those are appealing to my client,” Mr. Staver said. “No one wants to be fined or go to jail and she’s always been a law-abiding citizen. She’s just caught in a very difficult situation.”
William Sharp, legal director of the ACLU of Kentucky, said he believes the case is simple. “Religious liberty certainly does not allow public officials to deny government services to the public based on their personal beliefs,” Sharp wrote in a statement. “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.”
Ms. Miller and Ms. Roberts said they know the legal fight will stretch on. Ms. Davis continued to refuse to issue marriage licenses even after Judge Bunning ordered her two weeks ago to do so. The couple expects she will continue to refuse.
“We get all excited. But we know a letdown is coming again,” Ms. Miller said. “It’s going to keep going. It’s gonna be a long haul.”
“But it felt so good for a minute,” Ms. Roberts added.
—Copyright 2015 Associated Press
Ms. Miller said they felt vindicated by the federal court ruling. They got out the boxes holding their matching wedding bands, bought days after the Supreme Court’s decision in June. They are simple white gold bands, ringed in diamonds. “One step closer,” Ms. Miller said. “We might be able to get married in September.”
Mat Staver, an attorney for Ms. Davis, said he was disappointed with the ruling. He said he plans to discuss options with Davis, including an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
“The court of appeals did not provide any religious accommodation rights to individuals, which makes little sense because at the end of the day it’s individuals that are carrying out the acts of the office,” Mr. Staver said. “They don’t lose their individual constitutional rights just because they are employed in a public office.”
Ms. Davis testified in federal court last month she would “deal with that when the time comes” Last Saturday, she spoke to thousands of supporters at a religious freedom rally at the state capitol, saying: “I need your prayers…to continue to stand firm in what we believe.”
“Regardless of what any man puts on a piece of paper, the law of nature is not going to change,” Ms. Davis told the crowd.
‘Religious liberty certainly does not allow public officials to deny government services to the public based on their personal beliefs.’—William Sharp, legal director of the ACLU of Kentucky
Ms. Davis has said she won’t resign. She can only be removed from office if the state legislature impeaches her, which is unlikely. If she continues to defy a federal court order, a judge could hold her in contempt and order hefty fines or jail time.
“Certainly none of those are appealing to my client,” Mr. Staver said. “No one wants to be fined or go to jail and she’s always been a law-abiding citizen. She’s just caught in a very difficult situation.”
William Sharp, legal director of the ACLU of Kentucky, said he believes the case is simple. “Religious liberty certainly does not allow public officials to deny government services to the public based on their personal beliefs,” Sharp wrote in a statement. “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.”
Ms. Miller and Ms. Roberts said they know the legal fight will stretch on. Ms. Davis continued to refuse to issue marriage licenses even after Judge Bunning ordered her two weeks ago to do so. The couple expects she will continue to refuse.
“We get all excited. But we know a letdown is coming again,” Ms. Miller said. “It’s going to keep going. It’s gonna be a long haul.”
“But it felt so good for a minute,” Ms. Roberts added.
—Copyright 2015 Associated Press
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