Rowan County, KY - The same judge that sent County Clerk Kim Davis to jail for refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples has now rejected a motion filed by the ACLU seeking to force her to issue the marriage licenses with her name and authorization on them. Judge Bunning denied the ACLU motion seeking to hold Kim in contempt of court.
After she was released from jail and returned to work, Kim Davis removed her name and title from all marriage licenses. The ACLU complained and wanted her name on the licenses along with her title as Clerk of Court. Liberty Counsel informed the District Court that Kim Davis sought a reasonable accommodation. One week after taking office in December, Gov. Matt Bevin issued an Executive Order regarding Clerks who have religious objections to issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. The ACLU, nevertheless, asked the court to hold Kim Davis in contempt of court and requested the court to take receivership of the Clerk's office. Judge Bunning has now denied this request.
"There is absolutely no reason that this case went so far without reasonable people respecting and accommodating Kim Davis's First Amendment rights," said Mat Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel. "Today's ruling by Judge Bunning rejected the ACLU's request to hold Kim Davis in contempt of court. From the beginning we have said the ACLU is not interest in marriage licenses. They want Kim Davis's scalp. They want to force her to violate her conscience. I am glad the court rejected this bully tactic," said Staver.
Liberty Counsel is an international nonprofit, litigation, education, and policy organization dedicated to advancing religious freedom, the sanctity of life, and the family since 1989, by providing pro bono assistance and representation on these and related topics.
