U.S. Supreme Court Rules Against Kentucky Anti-Gay Marriage Clerk

[MohRokTah]

U.S. Supreme Court Rules Against Kentucky Anti-Gay Marriage Clerk

MOREHEAD, Ky. (AP) — The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled against a Kentucky county clerk who says her Christian faith should exempt her from having to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

The Supreme Court on Monday denied Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis' request for a stay while she pursues an appeal.

In the two months since the court legalized gay marriage, Davis has refused to issue any marriage licenses. Four couples sued her and the Supreme Court's rejection marks the end of her legal options to refuse.

It's not clear exactly what she will do when her office opens Tuesday. Her attorney has said she will pray about it overnight.

...

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/scotus-kim-davis-rowan-county

[Liberal Veteran]

1. Oh well....

[Xipe Totec]

2. Please, oh please, oh please! Step over the line again.... nt

[madinmaryland]

3. LOL. And it is happening in "more head, KY"

Pray all she wants, it's not going to change anything.

[spanone]

4. K&R...

[Fred Sanders]

5. Cue the RW wingnut response....SCOTUS also must be disobeyed and burned to the ground! Says Jesus!!

[struggle4progress]

6. That's not a ruling: it just means she couldn't find a justice

willing to grant a stay of the lower court's ruling while she appeals

[MohRokTah]

9. I didn't write the headline

Elena Kagan rules on these things for this district.

Still, if she refuses tomorrow, she's in clear contempt and should be sent to prison.

[struggle4progress]

11. I don't care so much about what she does as I do about what the county does

IIRC the court order was served against other county officials as well

If the county wishes to accommodate her in her beliefs, that's OK with me, provided they find a solution that does not discriminate against anyone in any material -- including imposing more than de minimis inconveniences on ordinary citizens attempting to avail themselves of standard government services

If a gay couple has to wait two extra minutes while she finds someone else to serve them, and if she can negotiate that efficiently and without unnecessarily lecturing or hectoring them, then it's no big deal

But if everybody else gets reasonably prompt service, and gay couples don't, or if gay couples are subject to humiliation in the course of seeking a license, it's a problem

[Liberal Veteran]

12. My understanding was she forbade anyone else on her staff to issue licenses.

Apparently, in order to act on her behalf, they have to use a literal rubber stamp denoting her as the signatory and she specifically forbade someone in the office who was willing from doing just that.

Under Kentucky law, marriages must be licensed by a county clerk, who first determines if the couple meets all legal requirements — such as being unmarried, and old enough. And because every license issued in Rowan County is under her authority, she feels she can't delegate the job to a non-objector.

"If I say that I authorize that, I'm saying I agree with it, and I can't," Davis told the court.

[struggle4progress]

15. Then, nope! her dog won't hunt: the office is still subject to the law

[Liberal Veteran]

16. Presumably, she took an oath when elected to her office, likely on the same bible she is using...

...to hide behind.

That oath involved upholding the laws and the constitution. If she feels she can do neither, she can resign from office with a clear conscience that she upheld her oath and her beliefs.

[struggle4progress]

19. Maybe the one prescribed in section 228 of the Kentucky constitution:

I do solemnly swear (or affirm, as the case may be) that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of this Commonwealth, and be faithful and true to the Commonwealth of Kentucky so long as I continue a citizen thereof, and that I will faithfully execute, to the best of my ability, the office of .... according to law; and I do further solemnly swear (or affirm) that since the adoption of the present Constitution, I, being a citizen of this State, have not fought a duel with deadly weapons within this State nor out of it, nor have I sent or accepted a challenge to fight a duel with deadly weapons, nor have I acted as second in carrying a challenge, nor aided or assisted any person thus offending, so help me God.

[smirkymonkey]

7. Bravo!

I hope she loses her job and becomes unemployable. It won;t happen where she lives, but I can dream. Arrogant jerk like this make me sick

[jberryhill]

8. Getting close to the end on this one

The couple should go to the office and get turned down again, to keep the contempt current, go back to the District Court and move for an order to show cause why She should not be held in contempt, the court should issue the order, and then she'll be scheduled for a hearing on contempt within a few days (if that).

[msongs]

10. SCOTUS marriage ruling was god's will. why is this woman disobeying her god? nt

[dixiegrrrrl]

13. Surprise....surprise....surprise..... n/t

[Dwayne Hicks]

14. Good!

Its time she be held in contempt and charged with Misconduct (which I think she is). I can see the RW head lines now. "Christian jailed for being Christian". "Christian persecution underway" lol.

[OldHippieChick]

17. The trick about prayer is you

have to listen for the answer. She is obviously not listening.

[Raster]

18. She listening, all right... just not hearing the answer she wants.

Her mother held the office before her. She worked in her mother's administration. Her son now works for her. Maybe, just maybe, it's time for this family to vacate the office.