A federal judge has dismissed all lawsuits against Kim Davis, the Rowan County, Kentucky clerk who refused to issue marriage licenses to gay couples shortly after the U.S. Supreme Court legalized same sex marriage.
Davis was briefly jailed for refusing to issue marriage licenses to gay couples, asserting participation in same-sex marriages violated her religious beliefs. Davis is Pentecostal, a branch of low church Protestantism. After her release, same-sex couples in Rowan County brought claims against Davis, alleging she was violating their civil rights.
U.S. District Court Judge David Bunning dismissed the cases Thursday, ruling that the controversy was now moot.
According to the Courier Journal, the Kentucky General Assembly recently adopted legislation creating new state marriage licenses that do not require the signature of a county clerk. The move came after Gov. Matt Bevin issued an executive order to the same effect. Since she, nor any member of her staff, will no longer be required to sign the forms, Davis feels her religious practice is no longer compromised. Her office has already begun issuing the licenses.
“In light of these proceedings, and in view of the fact that the marriage licenses continue to be issued without incident, there no longer remains a case or controversy before the Court,” Bunning wrote.
“We celebrate this victory for her and for every American,” said Mat Staver, chairman of Liberty Counsel, the Florida-based public interest law firm that represented Davis. “County clerks are now able to perform their public service without being forced to compromise their religious liberty. The case is now closed and the door has been shut on the ACLU’s attempt to assess damages against Kim Davis. This victory is not just for Kim Davis. It is a victory for everyone who wants to remain true to their deeply-held religious beliefs regarding marriage while faithfully serving the public.”
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