Judge Drops Marriage License Lawsuits Against Kim Davis
A federal judge has dismissed three lawsuits filed against Kentucky's Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis, who refused to issue marriage licenses to same sex couples last year because it violated her religious convictions.
Davis spent five days in jail last September after refusing a judge's order to issue licenses to gay and straight couples.
Davis said she wanted to avoid discriminating against anyone and had deputy clerks issue licenses to all couples, but a small handful decided to file a lawsuit against her.
U.S. District Judge David Bunning dismissed the federal lawsuits brought on by the two gay couples and two straight couples, who claimed it violated their civil rights.
Bunning noted that last January Gov. Matt Bevin signed an order removing names of county clerks from marriages licenses. The Kentucky General Assembly later passed legislation that created a new marriage license form that did not require the county clerk's signature.
"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.
"Kim Davis has won! We celebrate this victory for her and for every American," said Mat Staver, founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel, the international nonprofit group that has represented 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."
