Washington — The U.S. Supreme Court has reaffirmed marriage equality by rejecting an appeal from former Kentucky clerk Kim Davis, who became famous in 2015 for refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
Kim Davis Challenges the Landmark Ruling
Davis sought to overturn a lower court ruling requiring her to pay $360,000 in damages and legal fees to one of the couples she denied. Her attorneys argued that the Court’s 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges decision, which legalized same-sex marriage nationwide, should be reconsidered.
Dissenting Justices and Past Opinions
Justice Clarence Thomas, a longtime critic of the Obergefell ruling, has suggested revisiting it. Thomas, along with Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito, dissented in 2015. Roberts has remained largely silent, while Alito continues to voice objections but does not currently advocate overturning the ruling.
Amy Coney Barrett’s Perspective
Justice Amy Coney Barrett, who joined the Court after Obergefell, has said some rulings deserve reconsideration. However, she views same-sex marriage differently, noting that millions of couples have built families and lives around that decision.
The 2015 Controversy and Its Aftermath
Davis drew national attention when she defied court orders in Rowan County, Kentucky, citing religious beliefs. She was briefly jailed for contempt of court before her deputies issued marriage licenses without her name. Later, Kentucky lawmakers removed all county clerks’ names from marriage licenses to prevent similar conflicts.
Legacy and the Court’s Decision Today
Davis lost her reelection bid in 2018, but her legal battles continued. The Supreme Court’s latest decision leaves the nationwide right to same-sex marriage firmly in place, reaffirming the legacy of Obergefell v. Hodges.
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