Frankfort, KY - Today, Kentucky's Governor-elect Matt Bevin publically proclaimed one of his most urgent goals in office is to remove the personal names of county clerks from marriage licenses. This is directly what our client Kim Davis has been requesting for months. This promise will enable her and other clerks to do their jobs without compromising religious values and beliefs. This is a clear victory for our client's continued freedom.
The people of Kentucky have clearly spoken in support of Kim Davis and others who believe our nation should be a place where all people can live out their faith without fear of being put in prison. This is a day that our Constitutional principles are being used as intended to protect innocent people from undue harm. This promise is a clear, simple path to resolving all the legal efforts on behalf of Davis.
"Kim Davis and Liberty Counsel applaud Governor Elect Matt Bevin for his leadership in protecting the rights of conscience of all County Clerks," said Mat Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel. "It is refreshing to have someone with the integrity, character, and concern of Matt Bevin leading the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Gov. Steve Beshear could have resolved this marriage license issue a long time ago, but he chose to ignore the plea for help. Gov. Elect Bevin's impending executive order is a welcome relief for Kim Davis and should be for everyone who cherishes religious freedom," said Staver.
This week Liberty Counsel filed a comprehensive brief of nearly 100-pages before the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. In the lower court before Judge Bunning, Gov. Beshear and Attorney General Jack Conway will soon file their opinion addressing whether the marriage licenses issued are valid. The upcoming filings from Gov. Beshear and Attorney General Conway are likely moot if not irrelevant in light of the soon-to-be-issued executive order from Gov. Elect Bevin.
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.
