Supreme Court Upholds Same-Sex Marriage Rights, Rejects Davis Appeal

The US Supreme Court has decisively rejected an appeal from former Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis, who sought to overturn a ruling mandating her to pay damages for refusing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. The court’s decision reaffirms its landmark 2015 ruling that legalized same-sex marriage across the nation.

Davis’s appeal was dismissed without comment, leaving intact a jury’s finding that ordered her to pay $360,000 in damages. This ruling stems from her actions in Rowan County, where she halted the issuance of marriage licenses following the Supreme Court’s decision in Obergefell v. Hodges. The case became a focal point in the national debate over marriage equality, as Davis gained widespread attention for her refusal to comply with the court’s ruling.

The Supreme Court’s current composition has shifted since the original Obergefell decision, which was passed by a narrow 5-4 margin. Three justices from that majority have since departed, with their replacements appointed by former President Donald Trump, who is known for his conservative judicial philosophy. This change has raised concerns about the future of same-sex marriage rights, particularly following the court’s controversial decision to overturn the Roe v. Wade abortion ruling in 2022. In a concurring opinion, Justice Clarence Thomas suggested that the court should revisit the Obergefell precedent.

Davis’s rejection in this case represents a significant victory for David Ermold and David Moore, the couple she denied marriage licenses to on three occasions shortly after the Obergefell ruling. The couple filed a lawsuit in federal court in Kentucky, claiming that Davis had violated their constitutional rights. The jury awarded them $50,000 each in damages, which was subsequently supplemented by an additional $260,000 in fees and expenses.

In her appeal to the Supreme Court, Davis raised various arguments centered on religious freedoms and sovereign immunity, while also challenging the legitimacy of the Obergefell ruling itself. She contended that the Constitution does not explicitly reference same-sex marriage and that no such right is implied within its provisions.

Responding to Davis’s appeal, Ermold and Moore urged the Supreme Court to reject it without a hearing. They emphasized that Obergefell has become a fundamental aspect of American life, with nearly 800,000 same-sex couples legally married in the United States. “Those families were built around the right this court recognized,” they stated, asserting that the appeal was an inadequate vehicle for reconsidering the issue.

In 2015, Davis was held in contempt of court for her refusal to issue marriage licenses and spent five days in jail. She subsequently lost her reelection bid in 2018, further diminishing her political influence.

The Supreme Court’s decision to uphold same-sex marriage rights reaffirms its commitment to the principles established in the Obergefell case, reinforcing the legal protections afforded to same-sex couples across the nation.