This is a good article. Click here for more information.

Kim Davis

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Kim Davis
Clerk of Rowan County, Kentucky
In office
January 5, 2015 – January 7, 2019
Preceded byJean W. Bailey
Succeeded byElwood Caudill Jr.
Personal details
Born
Kimberly Jean Bailey

(1965-09-17) September 17, 1965 (age 56)
Jackson, Kentucky, U.S.
Political party
Democratic (1983–2015)
Spouse(s)Joe Davis
Children4
Known forRefusal to comply with a federal court order directing her to issue marriage licenses following Obergefell v. Hodges

Kimberly Jean Davis (née Bailey; born September 17, 1965) is a former county clerk for Rowan County, Kentucky, who gained international attention in August 2015 when she defied a U.S. federal court order to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. She was defeated by Democratic challenger Elwood Caudill Jr. in the November 6, 2018, election and vacated the office on January 7, 2019.

Davis was elected Rowan County Clerk in 2014. The following year, the Supreme Court decided Obergefell v. Hodges, and all county clerks in Kentucky were ordered to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Citing personal religious objections to same-sex marriage, Davis began denying marriage licenses to all couples to avoid issuing them to same-sex couples.[2][3] A lawsuit, Miller v. Davis, was filed, and Davis was ordered by the U.S. District Court to start issuing marriage licenses. She appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, but the application to appeal was denied. Davis continued to defy the court order by refusing to issue marriage licenses "under God's authority";[2] she was ultimately jailed for contempt of court.[4] Davis was released after five days in jail under the condition that she not interfere with the efforts of her deputy clerks, who had begun issuing marriage licenses to all couples in her absence. Davis then modified the Kentucky marriage licenses used in her office so that they no longer mentioned her name.

Davis's actions drew strong and mixed reactions from prominent politicians, legal experts, and religious leaders. Attorney and author Roberta A. Kaplan described Davis as "the clearest example of someone who wants to use a religious liberty argument to discriminate",[5] while law professor Eugene Volokh maintained that an employer must try to accommodate religious employees' beliefs. Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee said that Davis's imprisonment was part of the "criminalization of Christianity",[6] while Washington Post columnist Jennifer Rubin compared Davis's refusal to obey the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court to Alabama Governor George Wallace's "Stand in the Schoolhouse Door" in 1963. A few weeks after her release from jail, Davis met with Pope Francis in Washington, D.C. The Holy See Press Office later noted that the pope met with many others and said that the meeting was not a form of support for Davis's actions. Davis has been satirized in popular culture.

Career[]

Chief deputy clerk: 1991–2015[]

Kim Davis was born on September 17, 1965,[7] in Jackson, Kentucky.[8] By 1991, she was serving as chief deputy clerk of Rowan County, Kentucky, reporting to her mother, Rowan County Clerk Jean W. Bailey.[9] Davis's 2011 compensation was $51,812 (equivalent to $59,607 in 2020) in wages with an additional $11,301 (equivalent to $13,001 in 2020) in overtime and other compensation.[9] She earned more than other chief deputies in the county,[a] and some county employees and residents complained to the county's governing body, the Fiscal Court, that the clerk's staff's wages were too high, with total compensation for five employees being about $198,000. The Fiscal Court then voted to cut the 2012 budget for wages from $300,000 to $200,000.[9]

County clerk: 2015–2019[]

After her mother announced she would not run for re-election in 2014, Davis filed as a Democratic candidate for county clerk.[10] At a candidates' forum, Davis stated she felt she was best qualified for the position because of her 26 years of experience in the clerk's office.[11]

Davis narrowly won the Democratic primary election,[10] defeating Elwood Caudill Jr., a deputy clerk in the Rowan County property valuation administrator's office, by 23 votes and advancing to the general election against Republican John Cox.[12][13] Davis won the election, with Cox subsequently alleging that nepotism was to blame for his loss.[14] After winning the race, Davis told The Morehead News, "My words can never express the appreciation but I promise to each and every one that I will be the very best working clerk that I can be and will be a good steward of their tax dollars and follow the statutes of this office to the letter."[15][13][16]

Davis took the oath of office as the county clerk of Rowan County on January 5, 2015, beginning a four-year term slated to end on January 7, 2019.[17] As clerk in 2015, Davis received an annual salary of $80,000 (equivalent to $87,345 in 2020).[18][19]

Same-sex marriage license controversy[]

Background[]

On June 26, 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in the landmark case of Obergefell v. Hodges, holding that the fundamental right to marry is guaranteed to same-sex couples by both the Due Process Clause and the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.[20][21] Fourteen counties in three Southern states continued to deny marriage licenses for same-sex marriage. The Alabama Supreme Court allowed the probate judges of ten counties in Alabama to deny such marriage licenses, the clerk of one Texas county chose to resign rather than issue such licenses, and the clerks of two counties in Kentucky were not issuing licenses due to paperwork delays.[22][23][24] Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear ordered all Kentucky county clerks to begin issuing same-sex marriage licenses immediately.[25][26]

Davis's reaction to same-sex marriage ruling[]

Davis asks for the video camera to be turned off as she refuses David Ermold and David Moore (pictured) a marriage license. Release of the video ignited national controversy.[27]

Davis contacted Beshear, asking for an executive order to protect clerks who have moral objections against personally issuing such marriage licenses,[26] as Kentucky law requires county clerks to issue marriage licenses in their names.[28] She began turning away gay couples from her county office who were seeking marriage licenses. David Ermold and David Moore, a same-sex couple from Morehead, Kentucky and alumni of Morehead State University, released video footage on July 7, 2015 of Davis refusing to issue them a marriage license and requesting that they turn off their camera.[29][30] The video went viral overnight.[31]

The Family Foundation of Kentucky, a local political organization, held a protest rally against the ruling at the State Capitol in Frankfort on August 22, 2015, attended by several thousand people.[32] The clerks of the two other Kentucky counties declined to speak to the rally crowd, but Davis spoke briefly, saying, "I need your prayers ... to continue to stand firm in what we believe."[33] At a competing event several blocks away organized by the Fairness Campaign of Louisville, attendees celebrated the Supreme Court's decision and called upon government officials to uphold the law.[32]

Rather than issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, Davis began denying marriage licenses to all couples.[22][24][26]

Lawsuits against Davis[]

Six couples who were denied marriage licenses from Davis sued her in her official capacity as county clerk. Four couples were represented by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Kentucky and two couples each had separate legal representation.[22][34][35] The four couples represented by the ACLU, two same-sex couples and two opposite-sex couples, filed the first lawsuit against Davis (Miller v. Davis) on July 2, 2015.[36][37][38] On July 10, 2015, David Ermold and David Moore (who had shot the viral video) next filed suit against Davis, represented by Joseph Buckles and Thomas Szczygielski (Ermold v. Davis);[39][40][41] James Yates and William Smith Jr., represented by Rene Heinrich of the Heinrich Firm PLLC and Kash Stilz of Roush & Stilz PSC, filed a suit against Davis on August 25, 2015 (Yates v. Davis).[42][43][44]

Federal district judge David L. Bunning of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, the judge assigned to the cases, held hearings with Davis in Ashland, at which she was the only witness. Davis argued tearfully that issuing licenses under her name violated her beliefs, citing her religious rights under the First Amendment: "It wasn't just a spur-of-the-moment decision", she said. "It was thought out, and I sought God on it."[26] Davis had already decided against resigning from her post, as doing so, she said, would only leave the matter to her deputies: "If I resign, I solve nothing. It helps nobody."[26] Governor Beshear stated that he would not call a special session of the General Assembly to address Davis's concerns, while other state legislators believed that such a session could accommodate Davis with possible new legislation.[45] Davis's attorneys, from the Maitland, Florida-based law firm Liberty Counsel,[46][b] stated that the plaintiffs were free to drive to other counties to obtain their same-sex marriage licenses, with one adding, "This case is not about these plaintiffs' desires to get married, the case is about [their] desire to force Kim Davis to approve and authorize their marriage in violation of her constitutionally protected religious beliefs."[26] Davis and her attorneys then sued Governor Beshear for ordering her to violate her religious beliefs instead of trying to accommodate them, arguing that Beshear, not Davis, should be held accountable for any legal damages from the ACLU lawsuit.[48][49]

On August 12, Bunning issued a temporary stay barring Davis from "applying her 'no marriage licenses' policy to future marriage license requests".[22][50] Before the stay expired, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit refused to extend that ruling for an appeal. "It cannot be defensibly argued that the holder of the Rowan County clerk's office ... may decline to act in conformity with the United States Constitution", the three-judge panel wrote unanimously in their refusal, continuing, "There is thus little or no likelihood that the clerk in her official capacity will prevail on appeal."[50]

Appeal[]

Liberty Counsel and Davis filed an emergency application to appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court. On August 31, 2015, in a one-line order, the Supreme Court refused to hear the appeal, preventing Davis from legally continuing to deny marriage licenses.[50][51] In response to the U.S. Supreme Court's refusal to grant her stay request, Davis stated:

I never imagined a day like this would come, where I would be asked to violate a central teaching of Scripture and of Jesus Himself regarding marriage. To issue a marriage license which conflicts with God's definition of marriage, with my name affixed to the certificate, would violate my conscience.[52][53][54]

Davis continued to defy Bunning's court order after the Supreme Court's refusal.[55][56] The following morning, several couples sought to obtain marriage licenses, but Davis turned them away, saying she was acting "under God's authority".[2][3] Some in the media questioned whether Davis, having been married four times and only recently converted, was acting hypocritically in the application of her beliefs.[57][58][59][60]

Contempt of court and jailing[]

Bunning ordered Davis and her six deputy clerks to appear before him on September 3 after the six couples sought to have her held in contempt of court.[28][61] Bunning ruled in the plaintiffs' favor and held Davis in contempt.[62][63] The ACLU asked the court to fine Davis,[64] but Bunning ordered her remanded in custody after the hearing. The judge said Davis would remain there until she complied with the court's order to issue marriage licenses.[62][63] Bunning then spoke with each of the deputy clerks who reported to Davis. Only her son, Nathan Davis, told the judge he refused to comply with the court's order to start issuing marriage licenses; Bunning declined to hold him in contempt.[65][66] After the hearing, U.S. Marshals transported Davis to the Carter County Detention Center in Grayson.[67]

On Friday, September 4, the first day her office was open during her incarceration, Davis's deputy clerks began issuing marriage licenses to all couples.[8] James Yates and William Smith Jr. (independently suing Davis) were the first couple in Rowan County to receive a marriage license since Obergefell.[68] They were soon followed by other couples who were plaintiffs against Davis.[8][69]

Through her Liberty Counsel attorneys, Davis filed an appeal of the order holding her in contempt of court, asking that she be released immediately from jail and that her name be removed from marriage licenses, allowing her deputies to issue them.[8][70] Separately, Davis asked Governor Beshear to free her. The governor's office said that the conflict was a "matter between her and the courts";[71] Beshear added that he lacked the legal authority to either remove Davis from office or to relieve Davis of her statutory duties.[72] Rowan County Democratic Judge-Executive Walter Blevins[73] stated that he did not believe he would need to appoint a replacement for Davis, and that he believed the Attorney General of Kentucky and "the General Assembly will pass something where marriage licenses don't have anyone's name on them".[74]

Release and return to work[]

Five days later, on Tuesday, September 8, Bunning ordered Davis released from jail.[75][76][77] The order stated: "Defendant Davis shall not interfere in any way, directly or indirectly, with the efforts of her deputy clerks to issue marriage licenses to all legally eligible couples. If Defendant Davis should interfere in any way with their issuance, that will be considered a violation of this order and appropriate sanctions will be considered."[78]

Bunning's order also stated that Davis's deputy clerks must continue to comply with his earlier order to issue marriage licenses and to submit status reports to him every fourteen days confirming their compliance.[76][77][78] The deputy clerks released statements pledging to continue issuing licenses after Davis's release and to ignore any order from her to do otherwise, complying with the federal judge's order.[79][80] Licenses issued since Davis's refusal state that they are authorized by "the office of the Rowan County Clerk" but no longer bear her name.[81][82] Davis's supporters, gathered at the Rowan County Courthouse since her first day in custody, said that her deputies were unlawfully issuing licenses and should resign or be fired.[83][84][c]

Davis returned to work a week later, on September 14, 2015. She said that, while she would not interfere with any deputy clerk who issues marriage licenses, she would not personally issue or authorize any of the forms.[87] She created several altered versions of the Kentucky marriage license form and instructed her deputy clerks to use them, which had her name and reference to the clerk's office removed.[88] The ACLU sued Davis separately for these form alterations, which they found to be of questionable legality.[88][d] Governor Steve Beshear was asked by Bunning to brief the court on the validity of the licenses. Governor Beshear acknowledged that Kentucky would recognize the licenses being issued, but he could not verify the legality of the licenses issued or the means by which the marriage licenses were altered.[88][89] Bunning ultimately denied the ACLU's separate suit, stating the altered forms were likely legal and that Davis was now abiding by the court's order.[90]

While Davis remained inside her personal office, same-sex couples successfully walked out of the Rowan County clerk's office with their marriage licenses.[91][92] One of the applicants said, "My license is valid, and it's valid because of the court order that's in effect ... It doesn't have to have her signature."[93]

Reactions to controversy[]

Government officials are free to disagree with the law, but not disobey it.

—Kerry B. Harvey, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky[94][95][96]

Davis gained international attention after her refusal to issue marriage licenses and the ensuing controversy her actions caused.[97][98][99][100][101][102] Many legal experts asserted that Davis had no standing under the law to refuse to issue the licenses. Columbia Law School professor Katherine Franke said, "Kim Davis has all sorts of religious liberty rights secured under the First Amendment and under other laws, but they are not at stake in this case. All she's asked to do with couples that come before her is certify that they've met the state requirements for marriage, so her religious opposition to same-sex marriage is absolutely irrelevant."[103] Professor Stephen Vladeck of American University's Washington College of Law said that Davis "waived any right to have an objection to issuing same-sex marriage licenses when she ran for the job".[95] Washington Post columnist Jennifer Rubin and others compared Davis's refusal to follow orders of the U.S. Supreme Court to Alabama Governor George Wallace's futile "Stand in the Schoolhouse Door" protest of desegregation in 1963.[65][104][105] The Human Rights Campaign, a national LGBT civil rights group, said, "Ms. Davis has the fundamental right to believe what she likes ... but as a public servant, she does not have the right to pick and choose which laws she will follow or which services she will provide."[50] Attorney and author Roberta A. Kaplan, who argued for the plaintiffs in United States v. Windsor, wrote that "Kim Davis is the clearest example of someone who wants to use a religious liberty argument to discriminate, yet she swore an oath to uphold the Constitution. It is laughable that she can then decide which laws to enforce, which is why every decision in her case has gone against her."[5]

Opposition to the federal ruling came from political columnists William McGurn of The Wall Street Journal and Ray Nothstine of The Christian Post.[106][107] Law professor Eugene Volokh suggested that the Kentucky's state religious freedom restoration act might compel the state to accommodate Davis's religious beliefs and argued that state courts have the authority to order the removal of Davis's name from marriage licenses.[108] Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers also came to Davis's defense; he stated, in an amicus brief filed in federal court, that the "Supreme Court ruling has completely obliterated the definition of marriage".[109] Liberty Counsel, the law firm defending Davis, stated, "Kim Davis is being treated as a criminal because she cannot violate her conscience",[110] stating also that she refused to accept a proposed compromise where she would no longer be found in contempt if she agreed not to interfere with her deputies issuing licenses to same-sex couples.[63]

Reactions against Davis also came from the White House, from Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear, and from candidates in the race for the 2016 presidential election. White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said, "No public official is above the rule of law. Certainly not the president of the United States, but neither is the Rowan County clerk."[111] Governor Beshear said the judge's decision "speaks for itself",[112][113][114] while his attorneys called the legal arguments in her suit against him "absurd".[115] Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton said, "Officials should be held to their duty to uphold the law – end of story."[116][117] Several Republican presidential candidates also called on Davis to comply with court orders. Donald Trump said, "the decision's been made, and that is the law of the land."[118][119] Jeb Bush, former governor of Florida, said Davis "is sworn to uphold the law", but also suggested that some sort of accommodation be made for her.[117] Republican presidential candidates Carly Fiorina and Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina both suggested that Davis should comply with the court order or resign.[120] Members of the Westboro Baptist Church protested against Davis for her multiple divorces and marriages, saying she is living in adultery. Westboro also stated that "God hates oath breakers," arguing that Davis is obligated to follow the nation's law.[121]

Several national Republican politicians supported Davis. Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, the former governor of Arkansas, said that the Kim Davis affair was part of a "criminalization of Christianity" and organized a rally for Davis outside the jail where she had been held.[6] Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, another Republican presidential candidate, said that Davis was a victim of "judicial tyranny" and attended the same rally.[6][122] Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal and Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky, also presidential candidates, both voiced their support for Davis.[120][123] Matt Bevin, the Republican nominee for Kentucky governor in the 2015 election, said a simple solution to Davis's plight is for the government to stop providing marriage contracts.[124][125]

A survey of American adults conducted by YouGov in September 2015 found that 56% supported Judge Bunning's decision to jail Davis for contempt of court, while 31% of Americans opposed the decision.[126][127] When asked what Davis should do, 65% said that Davis should resign from office; 23% said that Davis should stay in office and continue to refuse to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples; and 4% said that Davis should remain in office but issue licenses to all persons legally entitled to one.[126][127]

Opposition by other court clerks[]

Other court clerks in the U.S. have also refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. The probate judges of several counties in Alabama have stopped issuing marriage licenses to anyone. Probate Judge Nick Williams of Washington County, Alabama, said he stopped issuing licenses altogether to avoid discrimination and said, "I completely disagree with the authority the Supreme Court has."[128] Probate Judge John Enslen of Elmore County, Alabama, said the federal government, not state probate offices, should be the entity issuing same-sex marriage licenses.[129] Casey Davis (unrelated to Kim Davis), a clerk in Casey County, Kentucky, said, "We've not tried to prevent same-sex marriages, we've only tried to exercise our First Amendment rights", adding that such applicants could apply in other counties.[130] Kay Schwartz, a clerk in Whitley County, Kentucky, felt oppressed: "There's a law against bullying ... Why take away the majority's right [just] to give the minority their rights?"[131] She suggested the possibility of other options to meet the needs of same-sex applicants, such as an online service.[131] The ACLU has no plans for legal action against other court clerks or probate judges.[128] National attention has not been on them as the ACLU brought no case against them, speculated University of Kentucky political science professor D. B. Riggle: "The action in Rowan County may be in part due to the availability of plaintiffs for a case."[128]

Decisions and issues[]

You asked why I couldn't issue you a marriage license, and I'm explaining to you, I'm showing you why I cannot. They didn't want to hear that, though. They wanted to shove that paper down my throat and make me eat it for my dinner.

—Kim Davis, May 2016[132]

Under Kentucky law, a commonwealth's attorney has the power to indict various local officials including "judges-executives, justices of the peace, sheriffs, coroners, surveyors, jailers, county attorneys and constables" for "malfeasance in office or willful neglect in the discharge of official duties" (an offense punishable by removal from office and a fine of up to $1,000); however, the statute doesn't include county clerks. USA Today writer Andrew Wolfson blamed "some reason lost to history" for the omission.[133] Because Davis is an elected official, she cannot simply be fired.[133] For Davis to be removed from the office of county clerk, impeachment proceedings must be initiated by the Kentucky House of Representatives and charges for impeachment brought to the Kentucky Senate.[133]

After being denied a license four times, one couple asked the Rowan County Attorney's Office to investigate Davis for official misconduct, a misdemeanor under Kentucky law.[79][133][134] Official misconduct in the first degree is a Class A misdemeanor and is punishable with imprisonment not to exceed 12 months and fines of $500.[134] The Rowan County Attorney's Office is prohibited from prosecuting Davis; Rowan County Attorney Cecil Watkins referred the official misconduct complaint to the Kentucky Attorney General's office, led by Attorney General Jack Conway.[135][136][137] The Kentucky Attorney General's office conducted a review,[138] and Conway issued a statement saying, "We are a nation of laws, and no one can defy an order from a federal judge."[139] Conway then issued a one-sentence statement saying that he would not appoint a special prosecutor to investigate Davis.[79][140]

Months after Davis's office began issuing same-sex marriage licenses, Davis's lawyers filed a motion asking the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit to overturn four of Bunning's decisions, calling them a "rush to judgment" that "imposed direct pressure and substantial burden on Davis, forcing her to choose between her religious beliefs and forfeiting her essential personal freedom on one hand, or abandoning those beliefs to keep her freedom on the other hand".[141] The court denied the motion on November 5.[142] Davis's lawyers filed their last appeal the next day, requesting a delay in issuing marriage licenses to same sex couples, arguing that previous decisions should apply only to the four couples to whom Davis's office was initially ordered to issue licenses. The appeal also asked the sixth circuit court of appeals to overturn a previous ruling that had sent Davis to jail for failure to comply.[143] This final appeal was denied two days later by the court.[144]

In March 2016, the Campaign for Accountability (CfA), a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit group, made a request to Davis for access to public records under the Kentucky Open Records Act, seeking copies of retainer agreements and lawyer-client engagement agreements between Davis and her attorneys at Liberty Counsel.[145][146] Liberty Counsel, which responded to the request on Davis's behalf, refused to comply, arguing that the documents were preliminary and private records are not subject to the Act.[145] CfA appealed to the Office of the Kentucky Attorney General, which under Kentucky law has the authority to make binding rulings on the Open Records Act,[145] and resubmitted its request to Davis's office in April 2016.[146] The Attorney General's Office sought to privately review the records at issue to determine if an exemption applied, but Liberty Counsel refused to make most of the documents available for a private review.[145][146] In an opinion issued on June 30, 2016, the Attorney General's Office determined that Davis had violated the Open Records Act, saying that her conduct had the effect of "intentionally frustrating the attorney general's review of an open records request" which "would subvert the General Assembly's intent behind providing review by the attorney general."[145][146]

One of the first acts of newly elected Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin was an executive order to remove clerks' names from the state marriage licenses. Bevin expressed his hope on November 6, 2015, that the executive order will protect the religious beliefs of officials who are opposed to gay marriage.[147][148] Kim Davis and her attorneys at Liberty Counsel immediately requested that the court dismiss her appeals, because the new regulation provides a religious accommodation for her and makes the case moot.[149] Bunning agreed, dismissing the three lawsuits filed against her, saying the new governor's order to use a license form that does not require the county clerk's signature has removed the controversy before the court.[150][151][152][153] One of the plaintiff couples who were denied marriage licenses from Davis contacted Bunning, requesting they be allowed to recoup $230,000 in legal fees. Davis's attorneys asserted that their legislative victory resolves the matter; the couples did not prevail against Davis, therefore they are not entitled to demand that Davis reimburse their legal fees. Separately, Rowan County filed a response contending that the county government should never have to pay for the actions of a single county clerk.[154] Then, by May 2017, a Cincinnati federal appeals court found that Bunning had erred in finding that damages claims by plaintiff couple David Ermold and David Moore became moot, saying, "The district court's characterization of this case as simply contesting the 'no marriage licenses' policy is inaccurate, because Ermold and Moore did not seek an injunction—they sought only damages"; observing that the record does not prevent damages claims. The three-judge panel granted leave for the couple to sue for damages over one marriage license.[155] Their case was sent back to Bunning, where he stated that the state of Kentucky was obligated to pay $222,000 in legal fees.[156] The ACLU itself sued Davis to recover $233,000 in legal fees,[157][158] but the motion was denied; the organization was not a "prevailing party" in the legal action.[159][160]

In July 2017, Davis was again sued for failing to issue a marriage license. The plaintiff, Mark Sevier, Vanderbilt University Law School graduate, was denied a license to marry a laptop computer.[161][162] A similar Florida lawsuit was dismissed in May.[163]

By February 2019, Governor Bevin formally rejected the idea of Kentucky bearing the $222,000 financial responsibility, insisting the amount should be paid by Kim Davis alone. "Only Davis refused to comply with the law" Bevin stated through his attorneys, insisting taxpayers "should not have to collectively bear the financial responsibility for Davis's intransigence."[164] U.S. District Judge David L. Bunning issued a preliminary injunction ordering Davis's office to resume issuing marriage licenses.[165][166] Bunning also ordered the state of Kentucky to pay her legal fees, writing that "Davis represented the Commonwealth of Kentucky when she refused to issue marriage licenses to legally eligible couples. The buck stops there."[167] Local reporting acknowledged that Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin had previously backed her refusal to issue same-sex marriage licenses.[168][169] On August 23, 2019, the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati upheld Bunning's decision ordering Kentucky to pay the $225,000 legal bill from the Kim Davis case.[170]

Meeting with Pope Francis[]

Pope Francis visited the U.S. in September 2015.

Within a few weeks of Davis's release from jail, Davis announced she and her husband had met with Pope Francis on September 24, 2015, at the Apostolic Nunciature to the United States in Washington, D.C., during the Pope's U.S. visit in September 2015.[171][172] According to Davis and her lawyer, the pope told Davis to "stay strong" and gave her two rosaries.[173][174][175][176] Vaticanist John L. Allen Jr. said that "there's no way to view the encounter other than as a broad gesture of support by the pope for conscientious objection from gay marriage laws" and that the gesture strengthened the hand of those who defend religious freedom.[177]

Two days later, the Holy See Press Office issued a statement saying that "the Pope did not enter into the details of the situation of Mrs. Davis and his meeting with her should not be considered a form of support of her position in all of its particular and complex aspects".[178][179][180][181] According to Vatican spokesman Father Thomas Rosica, the Pope met with several dozen other people, and rosaries were also given to others in attendance; Davis was not invited by the Pope to the Nunciature, and "the meeting may have been manipulated by her and her lawyer".[182] The only audience given by the Pope while in Washington was with a former student of his, an openly gay Argentine named Yayo Grassi, and Grassi's same-sex partner of 19 years.[180][183][184] Observers speculated whether the Pope had not been informed of Davis's controversy or if the Vatican had underestimated the media impact that such a meeting would cause.[185]

Reelection campaign[]

Davis announced that she would run for reelection in 2018 as a Republican.[186] Davis did not face any challengers in the Republican primary. Four Democrats ran in the May 2018 primary with the winner being Rowan County Assistant Property Valuation Administrator Elwood Caudill Jr., whom Davis narrowly defeated in the Democratic primary in 2014.[187][188] One of the Democrats Caudill defeated was David Ermold, who had been denied a marriage license by Davis and then filed suit against her.[189][190] Davis lost her reelection campaign on November 6, 2018 when she was defeated by Caudill in the general election by a little over 8 percentage points.[191][192]

Personal life[]

Davis has been married four times to three husbands.[19][193] The first three marriages ended in divorce in 1994, 2006, and 2008. Davis has two daughters from her first marriage and twins, a son and another daughter, who were born five months after her divorce from her first husband.[citation needed] Her third husband is the biological father of the twins, the children being conceived while Davis was still married to her first husband. The twins were adopted by Davis' current husband, Joe Davis, who was also her second husband; the couple initially divorced in 2006 but later remarried.[7][60] Joe Davis has also stated his support for her stance against same-sex marriage.[59] Davis's son Nathan works in her office as a deputy clerk and has taken the same position of denying marriage licenses to same-sex couples.[194] Shortly after the same-sex marriage license controversy, Davis said she and her husband switched from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party.[1]

Davis says she experienced a religious awakening in 2011, following her mother-in-law's dying wish that she attend church.[14] Since then Davis has identified herself as a Christian, belonging to the Apostolic Pentecostal movement,[195] which favors what they describe as a literal interpretation of the Bible.[196] She worships three times a week[197] at the Solid Rock Apostolic Church near Morehead.[14][198] Following her conversion, Davis let her hair grow long, stopped wearing makeup and jewelry, and began wearing skirts and dresses that fall below the knee, in keeping with Apostolic Pentecostal tenets regarding outward holiness and modest dress.[98][198] She also held a weekly Bible study for female inmates at the local jail.[14][198] In an interview in January 2016, Davis said that she believed that "we are living in end times."[199] Davis also expressed her view that the Bible is infallible.[199]

In popular culture[]

Davis was the subject of numerous satirical works following the burst of media attention in 2015. Books, social media profiles, and videos were created to satirize her refusal to issue marriage licenses. A Twitter account which once had more than 90,000 followers and is run by comedian Dave Colan trolled Davis with mocking tweets purporting to be from a woman who "Sits Next to Kim Davis".[200][201][202] Funny or Die made a Mashup video featuring characters from Parks and Recreation that spoofs Davis's refusal to issue marriage licenses[203][204] and parodies her meeting with Pope Francis.[205] La Strega Entertainment created a satirical music video sung to the tune of the "Major-General's Song" from Gilbert and Sullivan's Pirates of Penzance.[206] Saturday Night Live cast member Aidy Bryant portrayed Davis during the show's season 41 premiere.[207][208] "Kim Goes to Jail: An Erotic Story" is a satirical novella by Lilith St. Augustine lampooning Davis's incarceration, in which she is imagined to have been powerfully attracted to her female cellmate and become a lesbian. [209] Actress Jennifer Lawrence, in the December 2015 issue of Vogue, told Jonathan Van Meter that Kim Davis is a "lady that makes me embarrassed to be from Kentucky."[210][211][212]

Electoral history[]

2014 Democratic primary
2014 Rowan County County Clerk Democratic primary election[213]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Kim Davis 1,817 46.2%
Democratic Elwood Caudill Jr. 1,794 45.6%
Democratic Charlotte Combess 322 8.2%
2014 general election
2014 Rowan County County Clerk general election[214]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Kim Davis 3,909 53.2%
Republican John C. Cox 3,444 46.8%
Democratic hold
2018 Republican primary
2018 Rowan County County Clerk Republican primary election[215]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Kim Davis Unopposed
2018 general election
2018 Rowan County County Clerk general election[216]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Elwood Caudill Jr. 4,210 54.14%
Republican Kim Davis (Incumbent) 3,566 45.86%
Democratic gain from Republican

See also[]

References[]

Notes[]

  1. ^ Chief Deputy Sheriff Joe Cline received $38,000 annually and Deputy Judge-Executive Jerry Alderman $36,000 annually; neither received overtime pay.
  2. ^ Liberty Counsel had already entered the debate over same-sex marriage by representing the eleven Alabama probate judges refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.[47]
  3. ^ After Davis' release from jail, the Oath Keepers—an armed right-wing militia group—offered to provide a "security detail" to Davis to help prevent U.S. Marshals from re-arresting her for contempt. Davis declined the offer.[85][86]
  4. ^ The form alterations that the ACLU objected to were: 1. The phrase "in the office of" is struck. 2. The phrase "county clerk" is struck. 3. In place of her name, the form now says "Pursuant to Federal Court Order #15-CV-44 DLB". 4. In place of the title "deputy clerk", required on the form, it now reads "notary public".[88]

Sources[]

  1. ^ a b "Kentucky clerk in gay marriage dispute switches to Republican Party". Reuters. September 23, 2015. Retrieved September 23, 2015.
  2. ^ a b c Blinder, Alan; Perez-Pena, Richard (September 1, 2015). "Kentucky Clerk Denies Same-Sex Marriage Licenses, Defying Court". The New York Times. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
  3. ^ a b Bobic, Igor (September 1, 2015). "Kentucky Clerk Refuses to Issue Marriage License to Gay Couples in Heated Exchange". HuffPost. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
  4. ^ "Kim Davis, Kentucky Clerk Blocking Gay Marriages, Held in Contempt". NBC News. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  5. ^ a b Bromberger, Brian (October 15, 2015). "New book details Windsor Supreme Court victory". Bay Area Reporter. San Francisco Bay Area. Retrieved October 16, 2015.
  6. ^ a b c Hanna, Jason (September 8, 2015). "Kim Davis released, but judge bars her from withholding marriage licenses: At rally, Republican presidential hopeful takes center stage". CNN. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
  7. ^ a b Wolfson, Andrew; Wynn, Mike (September 3, 2015). "Ky clerk Kim Davis stands firm amid ridicule". The Courier-Journal. Louisville, Kentucky. Retrieved September 7, 2015.
  8. ^ a b c d "Kentucky clerk who refused same-sex marriage licenses starts new appeal". Reuters. September 6, 2015. Retrieved May 8, 2016.
  9. ^ a b c Kappes, Keith (December 27, 2011). "County clerk's office budget reduced first time". The Morehead News. Morehead, Kentucky. Retrieved September 6, 2015. The highest staff wage in 2011 – $63,113 – was paid to Bailey's chief deputy clerk, Kim Davis, who also happens to be her daughter. Davis is listed at $24.91 hourly for a 40-hour work week and an annual wage of $51,812 ... her rate of pay apparently triggered most of the complaints.
  10. ^ a b (Staff) (May 20, 2014). "Blevins wins judge-executive nomination". The Morehead News. Morehead, Kentucky. Retrieved September 6, 2015.
  11. ^ Stacy, Brad (April 25, 2014). "Primary candidates featured at forum". The Morehead News. Morehead, Kentucky. Retrieved September 6, 2015.
  12. ^ Kappes, Keith (May 23, 2014). "Davis wins squeaker in county clerk's race". The Morehead News. Morehead, Kentucky. Retrieved October 2, 2016.
  13. ^ a b Menville, Shayla (October 17, 2014). "County clerk's race more contested than usual". The Morehead News. Morehead, Kentucky. Retrieved September 6, 2015.
  14. ^ a b c d Blinder, Alan; Fausset, Richard (September 1, 2015). "Kim Davis, a Local Fixture, and Now a National Symbol". The New York Times. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
  15. ^ Menville, Shayla (November 7, 2014). "Davis following her mother as county clerk". The Morehead News. Morehead, Kentucky. Retrieved September 6, 2015.
  16. ^ "Kentucky Clerk Won't Give Gay Couple Marriage License, Defying Order". Fox News Channel. August 13, 2015. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
  17. ^ "Kentucky Constitution, Section 99". Kentucky Legislature. Retrieved September 4, 2015. At the ... election in [1998] and every [4] years thereafter, there shall be elected in each county ... a County Court Clerk ... who shall enter upon the discharge of the duties of their offices on the first Monday in January after their election, and who shall hold their offices [4] years ...
  18. ^ Wynn, Mike; Wolfson, Andrew (September 1, 2015). "Gay couples ask judge to punish defiant clerk". USA Today. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
  19. ^ a b "Clerk in Ky. marriage fight has turbulent marital history". CBS News. September 2, 2015. Retrieved September 3, 2015.
  20. ^ Obergefell v. Hodges, 576 US, *22 (June 26, 2015) ("The Court now holds that same-sex couples may exercise the fundamental right to marry.").
  21. ^ Denniston, Lyle (June 26, 2015). "Opinion Analysis: Marriage Now Open to Same-Sex Couples". SCOTUSblog. Retrieved July 2, 2015.
  22. ^ a b c d Stolberg, Sheryl Gay (August 13, 2015). "Kentucky Clerk Defies Court on Marriage Licenses for Gay Couples". The New York Times. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
  23. ^ Morris, Luke (July 10, 2015). "Rusk County clerk resigns to keep from issuing gay marriage licenses". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved September 13, 2015.
  24. ^ a b "Local Government Responses to Obergefell v. Hodges: Local government response by state". Ballotpedia. September 11, 2015. Retrieved August 31, 2015.
  25. ^ Lord, Joseph (June 26, 2015). "Gov. Steve Beshear: Kentucky Will Recognize Same-Sex Marriages Starting Today". WKMS-FM. Murray, Kentucky. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
  26. ^ a b c d e f Wynn, Mike (July 21, 2015). "Clerk 'sought God' on marriage license issue". The Courier-Journal. Louisville, Kentucky. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
  27. ^ McClam, Erin; Williams, Pete (September 1, 2015). "Kentucky Clerk Kim Davis Defies Supreme Court, Turns Down Gay Couples".
  28. ^ a b Wynn, Mike; Kenning, Chris (September 4, 2015). "Ky. clerk's office will issue marriage licenses Friday – without the clerk". USA Today. Retrieved September 4, 2015.
  29. ^ David Ermold and David Moore (July 7, 2015). Denied marriage license in Morehead, KY - Rowan County. Retrieved December 27, 2015 – via YouTube.
  30. ^ Browning, Bil (July 8, 2015). "Cops Respond to Kentucky Gay Couple Requesting Marriage License". The Advocate. Retrieved August 5, 2017.
  31. ^ (Staff) (July 9, 2015). "Video of Rowan clerk denying same-sex couple's marriage license goes viral". Lexington, Kentucky: WKYT-TV. Retrieved May 7, 2016.
  32. ^ a b Brammer, Jack (August 22, 2015). "Two rallies in Frankfort represent two sides of same-sex marriage debate". Lexington Herald-Leader. Lexington, Kentucky. Archived from the original on August 15, 2016. Retrieved September 15, 2016.
  33. ^ Chamberland, Michele (August 22, 2015). "Thousands Rally for Clerks Denying Gay Marriage Licenses". Lexington, Kentucky: WKYT-TV. Retrieved August 31, 2015.
  34. ^ (Staff) (August 28, 2015). "Court of Appeals denies delay, Davis still refuses". The Morehead News. Morehead, Kentucky. Archived from the original on May 9, 2016. Retrieved August 29, 2015.
  35. ^ "ACLU of Kentucky Files Class Action Suit Against Rowan County and its Clerk; Says Denial of Marriage Licenses to Same Gender and Opposite Gender Couples Unconstitutional". Louisville, Kentucky: ACLU. July 2, 2015. Retrieved September 13, 2015.
  36. ^ Miller v. Davis, PacerMonitor (Kentucky Eastern District Court July 2, 2015).
  37. ^ Miller v. Davis, PlainSite (Kentucky Eastern District Court July 2, 2015).
  38. ^ Miller v. Davis, Justia (Kentucky Eastern District Court July 2, 2015).
  39. ^ Ermold v. Davis, PacerMonitor (Kentucky Eastern District Court July 10, 2015).
  40. ^ Ermold v. Davis, PlainSite (Kentucky Eastern District Court July 10, 2015).
  41. ^ Ermold v. Davis, Justia (Kentucky Eastern District Court July 10, 2015).
  42. ^ Yates v. Davis, PacerMonitor (Kentucky Eastern District Court August 25, 2015).
  43. ^ Yates v. Davis, PlainSite (Kentucky Eastern District Court August 25, 2015).
  44. ^ Yates v. Davis, Justia (Kentucky Eastern District Court August 25, 2015).
  45. ^ Wolfson, Andrew (September 2, 2015). "Stivers asks judge to not punish Kim Davis". The Courier-Journal. Louisville, Kentucky. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
  46. ^ Stern, Mark Joseph (August 31, 2015). "Is Kentucky's Infamous Anti-Gay Clerk Getting Taken for a Ride by Her Lawyers?". Slate. Retrieved September 3, 2015.
  47. ^ "Anti-LGBT Hate Group to Represent Alabama Judges Refusing to Perform Same-Sex Marriages". Southern Poverty Law Center. February 9, 2015. Retrieved September 3, 2015. Founded in 1989 and based in Orlando, Fla., the Liberty Counsel is well known for its strident anti-LGBT rhetoric.
  48. ^ Cheves, John (August 5, 2015). "Rowan County clerk sues Ky. governor; claims same-sex marriage order violates religious freedom". Lexington Herald-Leader. Lexington, Kentucky. Archived from the original on May 7, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
  49. ^ "Kentucky clerk suing Gov. Steve Beshear over order to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples". Daily News. New York. August 5, 2015. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
  50. ^ a b c d Liptak, Adam (August 31, 2015). "Supreme Court Says Kentucky Clerk Must Let Gay Couples Marry". The New York Times. Retrieved August 31, 2015.
  51. ^ de Vogue, Ariane; Diamond, Jeremy (September 1, 2015). "ACLU Wants Kentucky Clerk in Contempt of Court over Denying Gay Marriage Licenses". CNN. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
  52. ^ (Staff) (September 1, 2015). "Kim Davis Issues Statement". The Morehead News. Morehead, Kentucky. Retrieved September 6, 2015.
  53. ^ Wynn, Mike; Wolfson, Andrew (September 2, 2015). "Kim Davis cites God, Crowd jeers gay couple". The Courier-Journal. Louisville, Kentucky. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
  54. ^ "Statement of Kentucky Clerk Kim Davis". Liberty Counsel. September 1, 2015. Archived from the original on September 2, 2015. Retrieved September 3, 2015.
  55. ^ Cheves, John (September 2, 2015). "Q&A: What can federal judge do to make Rowan clerk obey his order to issue marriage licenses?". Lexington Herald-Leader. Lexington, Kentucky. Archived from the original on May 7, 2016. Retrieved September 4, 2015.
  56. ^ Chappell, Bill (August 31, 2015). "Kentucky Clerk's Request for a Stay Is Denied By U.S. Supreme Court". NPR. Retrieved September 6, 2015.
  57. ^ Felton, Ryan (September 2, 2015). "Kentucky clerk denying licenses to gay couples has married four times". The Guardian. Retrieved September 3, 2015.
  58. ^ Arana, Gabriel (September 2, 2015). "Dan Savage: Thrice-Divorced Kim Davis Is A 'Hypocrite,' Just 'Waiting To Cash In'". HuffPost. Retrieved September 3, 2015.
  59. ^ a b Galofaro, Claire (September 2, 2015). "Kentucky Clerk in Gay Marriage Fight Says to Her, It's 'a Heaven or Hell Decision'". U.S. News & World Report. Associated Press.
  60. ^ a b Nelson, Steven (September 1, 2015). "Kentucky Clerk Fighting Gay Marriage Has Wed Four Times". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved September 3, 2015.
  61. ^ "Defiant Kentucky county clerk to learn fate soon". CBS News. September 3, 2015. Retrieved September 3, 2015.
  62. ^ a b Graham, Alexandria (September 3, 2015). "Court adjourned: Kim Davis jailed for contempt of court". WTVQ-DT. Lexington, Kentucky. Retrieved September 3, 2015.
  63. ^ a b c Ortiz, Erik (September 3, 2015). "Kim Davis, Kentucky Clerk, Held in Contempt and Ordered to Jail". NBC News. Retrieved September 3, 2015.
  64. ^ Oh, Inae (September 3, 2015). "Kentucky Clerk Kim Davis Headed to Court Over Refusal to Issue Gay Marriage Licenses". Mother Jones. Retrieved September 3, 2015.
  65. ^ a b Blinder, Alan; Lewin, Tamar (September 3, 2015). "Clerk in Kentucky Chooses Jail Over Deal on Same-Sex Marriage". The New York Times. Retrieved September 3, 2015.
  66. ^ Dolan, Eric W. (September 3, 2015). "Kim Davis' son Nathan refuses to issue same-sex marriage licenses in Kentucky after mother is jailed". The Raw Story. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
  67. ^ Griffin, Dan; Colegrove, Andrew. "Hundreds Attend Rally for Kim Davis at Carter County Detention Center". Huntington, West Virginia: WSAZ-TV. Associated Press. Retrieved September 6, 2015.[permanent dead link]
  68. ^ Payne, Ed; Hanna, Jason (September 4, 2015). "After Kim Davis is jailed, clerk's office issues marriage license to gay couple". CNN. Retrieved January 13, 2016.
  69. ^ Williams, Bethanni; Rose, Derrick (September 4, 2015). "Marriage licenses issued in Rowan Co. to same-sex couples". Louisville, Kentucky: WHAS-TV. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
  70. ^ Payne, Ed (September 7, 2015). "Kim Davis appeals contempt of court ruling over same-sex marriage licenses". CNN. Retrieved September 7, 2015.
  71. ^ Ellis, Ralph; Payne, Ed (September 7, 2015). "Kim Davis asks Kentucky governor to free her in same-sex marriage case". CNN. Retrieved September 7, 2015.
  72. ^ Martinez, Michael (September 9, 2015). "Who is Kim Davis, Kentucky clerk jailed over same-sex marriage licenses?". CNN. Retrieved September 30, 2017. The governor has no legal authority to remove Davis and cannot use an executive order to relieve her of statutory duties, he said.
  73. ^ Tongray, Marla (December 30, 2013). "Blevins to run for Rowan judge-executive". The Ledger Independent. Maysville, Kentucky. Retrieved September 7, 2015.[permanent dead link]
  74. ^ DeHart, Larry (September 2, 2015). "Blevins optimistic Davis won't be impeached". The Morehead News. Morehead, Kentucky. Retrieved September 7, 2015.
  75. ^ "Kentucky Clerk Kim Davis Ordered Released from Jail". CBS News. September 8, 2015. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
  76. ^ a b Schuppe, Jon (September 8, 2015). "Judge Orders Kim Davis Freed from Kentucky Jail". NBC News. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
  77. ^ a b Peralta, Eyder (September 8, 2015). "Just Before Big Rally, Kim Davis Is Released From Jail". NPR. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
  78. ^ a b Volokh, Eugene (September 8, 2015). "Kim Davis released from jail, plus more on her requested accommodation". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
  79. ^ a b c Beam, Adam (September 9, 2015). "Deputy to Kim Davis promises to continue issuing marriage licenses in Rowan County". Lexington Herald-Leader. Lexington, Kentucky. Archived from the original on May 7, 2016. Retrieved September 10, 2015.
  80. ^ "Deputy Ky. clerk says he won't follow boss' defiance". CBS News. September 9, 2015. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
  81. ^ Ellis, Ronnie (September 9, 2015). "Deputy clerk promises to keep federal court order". The Morehead News. Morehead, Kentucky. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
  82. ^ Estep, Bill (September 8, 2015). "Marriage licenses issued since Friday in Rowan County were altered to remove Kim Davis' name". Lexington Herald-Leader. Lexington, Kentucky. Archived from the original on April 20, 2016. Retrieved September 12, 2015.
  83. ^ Menville, Shayla (September 9, 2015). "Davis Supporters Call for Removal of Deputy Clerks". The Morehead News. Morehead, Kentucky. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
  84. ^ (Staff) (September 11, 2015). "Kim Davis: Defiant Kentucky Clerk's Supporters Want Deputy Clerks Fired Over Marriage Licences Issued to Gays". The Morehead News. Morehead, Kentucky. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
  85. ^ Lowenberg, Olivia (September 12, 2015). "'Oath Keepers' offer Kim Davis a security detail: Who are they?". The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
  86. ^ (Staff) (September 12, 2015). "Kentucky clerk rejects offer for armed militia protection against further detention". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
  87. ^ Neuman, Scott (September 14, 2015). "Kim Davis Back at Work, But Remains Defiant". NPR. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  88. ^ a b c d Mosendz, Polly (September 24, 2015). "How Kentucky Clerk Kim Davis Altered Marriage Licenses". Newsweek. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
  89. ^ Cheves, John (November 16, 2015). "Marriage licenses altered by Kim Davis are valid, Beshear tells judge". Lexington Herald-Leader. Lexington, Kentucky. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
  90. ^ "Kentucky Clerk Kim Davis Obeying Orders in Gay Marriage Case, Judges Rules". NBC News. February 10, 2016. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
  91. ^ Ellis, Ronnie (September 14, 2015). "Davis put to test early, couple given license". The Morehead News. Morehead, Kentucky. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  92. ^ Castillo, Mariano; Conlon, Kevin (September 14, 2015). "Kim Davis stands ground, but same-sex couple get marriage license". CNN. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  93. ^ Gutierrez, Gabe; McClam, Erin (September 14, 2015). "Kentucky Clerk Kim Davis Says She Won't Stop Deputies on Marriage Licenses". NBC News. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  94. ^ Wolfson, Andrew (September 2, 2015). "U.S. Attorney says Kim Davis should comply". The Courier-Journal. Louisville, Kentucky. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
  95. ^ a b Williams, Pete (September 3, 2015). "Does Kim Davis, Kentucky Clerk Blocking Gay Marriages, Have Legal Grounds?". NBC News. Retrieved September 4, 2015.
  96. ^ Wolfson, Andrew (September 2, 2015). "U.S. Attorney says Kim Davis should comply". The Courier-Journal. Louisville, Kentucky. Retrieved September 3, 2015.
  97. ^ Rose, Jeanne (September 8, 2015). "Kim Davis Released from Jail". Gazette Review. Minneapolis, Minnesota. Retrieved October 5, 2015.
  98. ^ a b Wolfson, Andrew (October 2, 2015). "Locals condemn, praise Davis' visit with pope". The Courier-Journal. Louisville, Kentucky. Retrieved October 5, 2015.
  99. ^ Bellamy, Lana (September 5, 2015). "Hundreds pray for Davis at Carter jail". Richmond Register. Richmond, Kentucky. Retrieved October 5, 2015.
  100. ^ "Judge dismisses civil suits against Kim Davis". USA Today. August 20, 2016. Retrieved June 3, 2017.
  101. ^ "Kentucky clerk opposed to gay marriage says state law negates appeal". Reuters. June 21, 2016. Retrieved June 3, 2017.
  102. ^ Gajanan, Mahita (September 3, 2015). "Tennessee judge denies straight couple divorce, citing gay marriage ruling". The Guardian. Retrieved June 3, 2017.
  103. ^ "Law Professor: Davis Can't Evoke Religion To Deny Marriage Licenses". NPR. September 1, 2015. Retrieved September 7, 2015.
  104. ^ Rubin, Jennifer (September 4, 2015). "Trashing the rule of law". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 4, 2015.
  105. ^ Graham, Renée (September 3, 2015). "Kim Davis follows the footsteps of George Wallace". Boston Globe. Retrieved September 4, 2015.
  106. ^ McGurn, William (September 7, 2015). "Why Must Kim Davis Be Jailed? A federal judge chose the nuclear option instead of finding a reasonable accommodation". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
  107. ^ Nothstine, Ray (September 4, 2015). "Will More Clerks Be Going to Jail? 2nd Christian Kentucky Clerk Defies Ruling to Issue Marriage Licenses to Gay Couples". The Christian Post. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
  108. ^ Volokh, Eugene (September 4, 2015). "When does your religion legally excuse you from doing part of your job?". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 12, 2015.
  109. ^ (Staff) (September 2, 2015). "Senate President Stivers files amicus brief in Rowan County clerk case". Louisville, Kentucky: WHAS-TV. Retrieved September 7, 2015.
  110. ^ "Kentucky Clerk Kim Davis Jailed for Her Conscience". Liberty Counsel. September 3, 2015. Archived from the original on September 4, 2015. Retrieved September 3, 2015.
  111. ^ Meyer, Ken (September 3, 2015). "Josh Earnest Responds to KY Clerk's Jailing: 'No Public Official Is Above the Rule of Law'". Mediaite. Retrieved September 7, 2015.
  112. ^ Loftus, Tom (September 3, 2015). "Beshear: Decision on Kim Davis 'speaks for itself'". The Courier-Journal. Louisville, Kentucky. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
  113. ^ Peralta, Eyder (September 1, 2015). "Despite High Court Ruling, Kentucky Clerk Denies Marriage Licenses". NPR. Retrieved September 7, 2015.
  114. ^ (Staff) (September 2, 2015). "Beshear: Kim Davis' future in courts' hands; 'I have no legal authority' to remove her from office". Northern Kentucky Tribune. Edgewood, Kentucky. Retrieved September 7, 2015.
  115. ^ (Staff) (October 1, 2015). "Beshear: Kim Davis's legal arguments 'absurd'". The Courier-Journal. Louisville, Kentucky. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
  116. ^ Byrnes, Jesse (September 3, 2015). "Clinton: Officials should 'uphold the law'". The Hill. Retrieved September 7, 2015.
  117. ^ a b Gehrke, Joel (September 4, 2015). "Jeb Bush: Kim Davis Is 'Sworn to Uphold the Law'". National Review. Retrieved September 7, 2015.
  118. ^ Sherfinski, David (September 4, 2015). "Donald Trump on Kim Davis case: 'The Supreme Court has ruled'". The Hill. Retrieved September 7, 2015.
  119. ^ Sherfinski, David (September 7, 2015). "Donald Trump on Kentucky clerk: Same-sex marriage the 'law of the land'". CNN. Retrieved September 7, 2015.
  120. ^ a b Israel, Josh (September 3, 2015). "Only 2 Republican Candidates Think Kim Davis Needs To Quit Or Follow The Law". ThinkProgress. Archived from the original on September 5, 2015. Retrieved September 7, 2015.
  121. ^ Wynn, Mike (October 19, 2015). "Westboro Baptist Church protests Kim Davis". USA Today. Retrieved October 19, 2015.
  122. ^ Sneed, Tierney (September 3, 2015). "Ted Cruz: 'I Stand With Kim Davis'". Talking Points Memo. Retrieved September 4, 2015.
  123. ^ Byrnes, Jesse (September 3, 2015). "GOP candidates blast 'absurd' jailing of Kentucky marriage clerk". The Hill. Retrieved September 7, 2015.
  124. ^ (Staff) (September 3, 2015). "Matt Bevin Responds to Kim Davis' Arrest". WTVQ-DT. Lexington, Kentucky. Retrieved September 7, 2015.
  125. ^ (Staff) (September 3, 2015). "Matt Bevin calls on Governor Steve Beshear to uphold Kentuckians' individual liberties". Bowling Green, Kentucky: WBKO. Archived from the original on September 25, 2015. Retrieved September 7, 2015.
  126. ^ a b Moore, Peter (September 9, 2015). "Majority of public back jailing Kim Davis". YouGov. Retrieved September 10, 2015 – via Amazon CloudFront.
  127. ^ a b "1000 Adult Interviews" (PDF). YouGov. September 9, 2015. Retrieved September 10, 2015 – via Amazon CloudFront.
  128. ^ a b c Gutierrez, Gabe (September 9, 2015). "Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis Isn't Kentucky's Only Gay Marriage Holdout". NBC News. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
  129. ^ Phillips, Ryan (October 9, 2015). "Alabama probate judge says federal government should issue same-sex marriage licenses". Birmingham Business Journal. Birmingham, Alabama. Retrieved October 9, 2015.
  130. ^ Camerota, Alisyn (September 1, 2015). "Kentucky clerk: There is a power above man's laws". CNN. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
  131. ^ a b Bowman, Brad (September 2, 2015). "Defiant county clerks standing ground on gay marriage issue". The State Journal. Frankfort, Kentucky. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
  132. ^ Wong, Curtis M. (May 22, 2016). "Kim Davis: Gay Couples Tried to 'Make Me Eat' SCOTUS Ruling for Dinner". HuffPost. Retrieved May 22, 2016.
  133. ^ a b c d Wolfson, Andrew (September 2, 2015). "Q&A: Why hasn't Ky. clerk been fired in gay marriage license case?". USA Today. Retrieved September 3, 2015.
  134. ^ a b (Staff) (August 31, 2015). "Misconduct charge against Davis referred to AG". Richmond Register. Richmond, Kentucky. Retrieved August 31, 2015.
  135. ^ Thornton, Hillary (August 29, 2015). "'Official misconduct charge' against Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis referred to attorney general". Lexington, Kentucky: WKYT-TV. Retrieved August 28, 2015.
  136. ^ (Staff) (August 28, 2015). "Rowan County Atty's Office Refers Charge of Official Misconduct". Lexington, Kentucky: WLEX-TV. Archived from the original on August 30, 2015. Retrieved August 28, 2015.
  137. ^ Wolfson, Andrew; Wynn, Mike (August 31, 2015). "Rowan clerk Kim Davis loses Supreme Court fight". The Courier-Journal. Louisville, Kentucky. Retrieved September 6, 2015.
  138. ^ Sanburn, Josh (September 1, 2015). "What's Next for the Kentucky Clerk Who Won't Issue Gay Marriage Licenses?". Time. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
  139. ^ Conway, Jack (September 3, 2015). "Statement from Attorney General Conway". The State of Kentucky. Retrieved September 6, 2015.
  140. ^ Wolfson, Andrew (September 10, 2015). "Conway: No special prosecutor for Kim Davis". The Courier-Journal. Louisville, Kentucky. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
  141. ^ (Staff) (November 4, 2015). "Kim Davis Heads Back To Court". HuffPost. Retrieved November 6, 2015.
  142. ^ (Staff) (November 5, 2015). "Kentucky: Defiant Clerk Loses Again". The New York Times. Associated Press. Retrieved November 6, 2015.
  143. ^ Connolly, Amy R. (November 6, 2015). "Kentucky clerk Kim Davis loses latest gay marriage appeal". United Press International. Retrieved November 26, 2015.
  144. ^ "Kentucky clerk Kim Davis loses latest gay marriage appeal". Associated Press. November 5, 2015. Retrieved November 26, 2015.
  145. ^ a b c d e Cheves, John (July 5, 2016). "Kim Davis violated Open Records Act, attorney general says". Lexington Herald-Leader. Lexington, Kentucky. Archived from the original on July 6, 2016. Retrieved September 15, 2016.
  146. ^ a b c d Watkins, Morgan (July 6, 2016). "AG opinion: Kim Davis violated Open Records Act". The Courier-Journal. Louisville, Kentucky. Retrieved September 15, 2016.
  147. ^ Michelle, Mark (November 6, 2015). "Amid Kim Davis Backlash, Kentucky Gov.-Elect Matt Bevin To Remove Clerks' Names From State Marriage Licenses". International Business Times. Retrieved December 28, 2015.
  148. ^ Bittenbender, Steve (December 23, 2015). "Kentucky Governor Gives Kim Davis a 'Wonderful Christmas Gift'". Charisma. Retrieved December 28, 2015.
  149. ^ (Staff) (June 21, 2016). "Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis requests marriage license appeals be dismissed". Lexington, Kentucky: WKYT-TV. Retrieved May 7, 2016.
  150. ^ Loftus, Tom (August 20, 2016). "Judge dismisses civil suits against Kim Davis". USA Today. Retrieved October 2, 2016.
  151. ^ (Staff) (August 19, 2016). "Victory at Last! Kim Davis Has Won the Fight for Religious Freedom". Charisma. Retrieved October 2, 2016.
  152. ^ Provenzano, Brianna (August 20, 2016). "All 3 lawsuits against Kim Davis were just dismissed by a federal judge". Mic. Retrieved October 2, 2016.
  153. ^ Farias, Cristian (June 21, 2016). "Kim Davis Wants The Law To Forget That Time She Defied The Supreme Court on Gay Marriage". HuffPost. Retrieved October 2, 2016.
  154. ^ Cheves, John (November 2, 2016). "Couples who sued Kim Davis to get married now want to hand her the bill". Lexington Herald-Leader. Lexington, Kentucky. Archived from the original on November 3, 2016. Retrieved November 5, 2016.
  155. ^ "Same-sex couple can seek damages from Kentucky clerk: U.S. appeals court". Reuters. May 2, 2017.
  156. ^ Held, Amy (July 21, 2017). "Kentucky Must Pay Attorney Fees For Couples Who Sued Kim Davis, Judge Says". NPR. Retrieved July 21, 2017.
  157. ^ Ring, Trudy (September 20, 2016). "ACLU Sues Kim Davis and Her County for $233K in Legal Fees". The Advocate. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
  158. ^ Patterson, Fadia (September 20, 2016). "ACLU Lawyers Sue Kim Davis Over Legal Fees". WTVQ-DT. Lexington, Kentucky. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
  159. ^ D'Angelo, Chris (March 7, 2017). "Judge Denies ACLU's Motion To Recoup Legal Fees From Marriage Equality Battle". HuffPost. Retrieved May 20, 2017.
  160. ^ "Ermold v. Davis, No. 16-6412 (6th Cir. 2017)". Retrieved June 3, 2017.
  161. ^ Zaimov, Stoyan (July 7, 2016). "Kim Davis Facing Lawsuit for Denying a Man a License to Marry His Laptop Computer". The Christian Post. Washington D.C. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  162. ^ "Kim Davis sued for denying man license to marry his laptop". Lexington, Kentucky: WKYT-TV. July 5, 2017. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  163. ^ "Florida judge won't let man marry porn-filled computer". Orlando Sentinel. Orlando, Florida. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  164. ^ Beam, Adam (January 30, 2019). "Gov. Bevin, Kentucky clerk at odds over attorneys' fees". Associated Press. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  165. ^ "Miller v. Davis". American Civil Liberties Union.
  166. ^ Wolfson, Andrew. "Taxpayers on hook for Kentucky clerk Kim Davis' fight against gay marriage". The Courier-Journal.
  167. ^ "Kentucky Must Pay Attorney Fees For Couples Who Sued Kim Davis, Judge Says". NPR.
  168. ^ Wolfson, Andrew. "Matt Bevin praised Kim Davis, but now his lawyers want her to pay up". The Courier-Journal.
  169. ^ Bailey, Phillip M. "Kim Davis gets Matt Bevin's 'absolute' backing". The Courier-Journal.
  170. ^ Cheves, John (August 23, 2019). "Kentucky must pay $225,000 legal bill from Kim Davis case, appeals court says". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved August 26, 2019.
  171. ^ "Pope Francis meets with Kim Davis, enters culture war". CNN. October 1, 2015. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  172. ^ "Kim Davis speaks out on meeting Pope Francis". CBS News. September 30, 2015. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  173. ^ Goodstein, Laurie (September 30, 2015). "Kim Davis, Kentucky County Clerk, Met Pope Francis". The New York Times. Retrieved September 30, 2015.
  174. ^ Eversley, Melanie; Bacon, John (September 30, 2015). "Vatican confirms pope met with Kim Davis". USA Today. Retrieved September 30, 2015.
  175. ^ Chappell, Bill (September 30, 2015). "Kim Davis And Pope Francis Had A Private Meeting in D.C." NPR. Retrieved September 30, 2015.
  176. ^ Green, Emma (September 30, 2015). "Why Did Pope Francis Meet With Kim Davis, the Gay-Marriage-Protesting Clerk From Kentucky?". The Atlantic. Retrieved September 30, 2015.
  177. ^ Allen Jr., John L. (September 30, 2015). "What it means that Pope Francis met Kim Davis". Crux. Retrieved November 26, 2015.
  178. ^ Payne, Ed; Burke, Daniel (October 2, 2015). "Pope's meeting with Kim Davis not an endorsement, Vatican says". CNN. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
  179. ^ Boorstein, Michelle (October 2, 2015). "Why no one wants to talk about how the Pope Francis-Kim Davis meeting was arranged". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
  180. ^ a b Yardley, Jim; Goodstein, Laurie (October 2, 2015). "Pope Francis' Meeting Wasn't an Endorsement of Kim Davis's Views, Vatican Says". The New York Times. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
  181. ^ "Holy See Press Office issues statement on Pope's meeting with Kim Davis". Holy See Press Office. October 2, 2015. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
  182. ^ Kington, Tom (October 2, 2015). "The truth about the Kim Davis/Pope Francis meeting, according to the Vatican". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
  183. ^ Burke, Daniel (October 2, 2015). "Pope held private meeting with same-sex couple in U.S." CNN. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
  184. ^ Green, Emma (October 2, 2015). "Before Kim Davis, the Pope Hung Out With a Gay Couple". The Atlantic. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
  185. ^ "Archbishop at Center of Mystery of Papal Meeting With Kim Davis". The New York Times. October 2, 2015. Retrieved May 8, 2016.
  186. ^ "Kentucky Clerk Opposed to Gay Marriage to Run for 2018 Re-Election". NBC News. Reuters. November 9, 2017. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
  187. ^ "2018 Primary Election Candidate Filings" (PDF). Kim Davis County Clerk, Rowan County, Kentucky. March 1, 2018. Retrieved May 22, 2018.
  188. ^ Beam, Adam; Lovan, Dylan (May 22, 2018). "Gay Kentucky man loses bid to challenge Rowan County clerk Kim Davis". The Courier-Journal. Louisville, Kentucky. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
  189. ^ Brammer, John Paul (December 6, 2017). "Kim Davis turned him away. Now he's running to unseat her". NBC News. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  190. ^ (Staff) (December 6, 2017). "Man denied marriage license by Kim Davis announces campaign to replace her". Lexington, Kentucky: WKYT-TV. Retrieved December 7, 2017.
  191. ^ Wright, Will (November 6, 2018). "Kim Davis, clerk who refused to sign marriage licenses for gay couples, loses to Democrat". Lexington Herald-Leader. Lexington, Kentucky. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
  192. ^ Gstalter, Morgan (November 6, 2018). "Anti-gay marriage country clerk Kim Davis loses reelection in Kentucky". The Hill. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
  193. ^ Mack, David (September 1, 2015). "Meet Kim Davis, the Woman Denying Same-Sex Couples Marriage Licenses in Kentucky". BuzzFeed. Retrieved September 3, 2015.
  194. ^ "Kentucky clerks to license marriages as their boss is jailed". Boston Herald. Associated Press. September 3, 2015.
  195. ^ Miller, Emily (September 9, 2015). "What Kim Davis's Apostolic Christian Church Is All About". HuffPost. Retrieved June 23, 2016.
  196. ^ Kaplan, Sarah; Higdon, James (September 2, 2015). "The defiant Kim Davis, the Ky. clerk who refuses to issue gay marriage licenses". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 15, 2016.
  197. ^ Blackford, Linda B. (July 20, 2015). "Rowan Clerk Testifies She 'Prayed and Fasted' Over Decision to Deny Marriage Licenses". Lexington Herald-Leader. Lexington, Kentucky. Archived from the original on May 7, 2016. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
  198. ^ a b c Miller, Emily McFarlan (September 9, 2015). "What's an Apostolic Christian and why is Kim Davis' hair so long?". USA Today. Retrieved September 10, 2015.
  199. ^ a b Smith, Samuel (January 12, 2016). "Kim Davis Talks End Times, Pope Francis, SOTU and Religious Freedom (Interview)". The Christian Post. Retrieved January 26, 2016.
  200. ^ Vultaggio, Maria (September 3, 2015). "'Sit Next To Kim Davis' Parody Twitter Account Takes Off, Pokes Fun At 'Hypocritical' Kentucky Clerk". International Business Times. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
  201. ^ Lavers, Michael K. (September 9, 2015). "Calif. man creates Twitter account mocking Kim Davis". Washington Blade. Retrieved November 15, 2015.
  202. ^ DiFurio, Dom (September 30, 2015). "How this Kim Davis parody account became a force for LGBT rights". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
  203. ^ Mullins, Jenna (September 2, 2015). "Parks and Rec Mashup Starring Anti-Gay Kentucky Clerk Kim Davis Says What Everyone Is Thinking". E! News. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
  204. ^ Ermac, Raffy (September 2, 2015). "Funny or Die Spoofs Kim Davis With Clerks and Recreation". The Advocate. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
  205. ^ Ring, Trudy (October 2, 2015). "Funny or Die on How Kim Davis Met the Pope". The Advocate. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
  206. ^ Browning, Bil (September 29, 2015). "Kim Davis Is the Very Model of a Modern Fundamentalist". The Advocate. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
  207. ^ Garner, Glenn (October 5, 2015). "ICYMI: 'SNL' Mocks Kim Davis and Martin Shkreli". Out. Retrieved October 20, 2015.
  208. ^ Rawles, Timothy (October 5, 2015). "SNL remembers the viral celebrities of 2015 in funny season opener". San Diego Gay and Lesbian News. Retrieved October 20, 2015.
  209. ^ St.Augustine, Lilith (November 23, 2015). "Kim Goes to Jail: An Erotic Story". MTV. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  210. ^ Rowley, Liz (November 12, 2015). "In One Quote, Jennifer Lawrence Sums Up Why She'll Never Be a Republican". Mic. Retrieved November 15, 2015.
  211. ^ Kumar, Anugrah. "Jennifer Lawrence 'Embarrassed to Be From Kentucky' Because of Kim Davis". The Christian Post. Retrieved November 15, 2015.
  212. ^ Van Meter, Jonathan (November 11, 2015). "Jennifer Lawrence Is Determined, Hilarious, and—Above All—Real". Vogue. Retrieved November 15, 2015.
  213. ^ "Primary Election Rowan County Recapitulation Sheet" (PDF). Rowan County Clerk. May 20, 2014. p. 4. Retrieved September 3, 2015.
  214. ^ "2014 General Election". Rowan County Clerk. November 4, 2014. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  215. ^ "Gay Kentucky man loses bid to challenge Rowan County clerk Kim Davis". Courier Journal. 2018. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  216. ^ "2018 General Election Rowan County, Kentucky State Board of Elections". Alison Lundergan Grimes, Chair. November 6, 2018. Retrieved November 11, 2018.

External links[]

Retrieved from ""