of United States Supreme Court On Monday, it announced it would not hear the former defendant’s appeal. kentucky Clerk Kim Davis, a former county clerk, refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples after a landmark 2015 ruling. Obergefell vs. Hodges.
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By refusing to review, the court left in place a lower court ruling that found Davis personally liable for violating the constitutional rights of a same-sex couple who subsequently refused to serve time. Obergefell has been decided. The move leaves marriage equality intact and marks a quiet but significant moment in a decade-long legal battle over the scope of religious exemptions for public office.
Related: Breaking news: U.S. Supreme Court to consider whether to reconsider marriage equality
Davis, who became famous for his defiance of the 2015 ruling, told the court he was not only responsible; Obergefell itself. Josh Rovenger, legal director at GLAD Law, said his organization helped argue the initial lawsuit and said the chances of a petition succeeding are always low. “It would be really unusual for a court to take a case with such a narrow fact pattern and use it for review.” Obergefell”Lovenger said. of advocate before the court’s announcement.
He said the legal issues in Davis’ appeal, regarding emotional distress damages and qualified immunity, were “technical” and separate from the broader constitutional rights at issue. Still, Lovenger said supporters remain prepared: “We are ready for all possibilities.”
Related: Jim Obergefell warns that ‘people should be concerned’ about Supreme Court considering marital equality case
For Jim Obergefell, whose case made history nearly a decade ago, the court’s refusal to hear Davis’ appeal is a relief, but not satisfaction. “They have turned the concept of freedom upside down,” he said. defender Prior to the announcement. “If we don’t protect its true meaning, we risk losing the very promise of equality.”
This is a developing story.
Source: Advocate.com – www.advocate.com
