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| Kentucky clerk defies gay marriage court order again 'under God's authority' | Kentucky clerk defies gay marriage court order again 'under God's authority' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A county clerk in Kentucky has again refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples on religious grounds, risking jail time or fines as she continues to ignore orders by courts and the governor. | A county clerk in Kentucky has again refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples on religious grounds, risking jail time or fines as she continues to ignore orders by courts and the governor. |
| Rowan County clerk Kim Davis’s office denied licenses to several couples on Tuesday morning in spite of a supreme court order on Monday night that meant she had to comply with a lower court decision ordering her to issue marriage licenses. | Rowan County clerk Kim Davis’s office denied licenses to several couples on Tuesday morning in spite of a supreme court order on Monday night that meant she had to comply with a lower court decision ordering her to issue marriage licenses. |
| One of the couples who attempted to apply for a license on Tuesday confronted Davis inside the office. | One of the couples who attempted to apply for a license on Tuesday confronted Davis inside the office. |
| “Under whose authority are you not issuing marriage licenses today?” he asked. | “Under whose authority are you not issuing marriage licenses today?” he asked. |
| “Under God’s authority,” Davis said. | “Under God’s authority,” Davis said. |
| Davis has said that recognizing such marriages is against her Apostolic Christian faith and decided to stop issuing marriage licenses to gay and straight couples in an effort to avoid the June supreme court ruling that made same-sex marriage legal nationwide. | Davis has said that recognizing such marriages is against her Apostolic Christian faith and decided to stop issuing marriage licenses to gay and straight couples in an effort to avoid the June supreme court ruling that made same-sex marriage legal nationwide. |
| Last month, a federal judge ordered Davis to abide by the supreme court’s June decision in response to a suit filed by two same-sex couples and two straight couples. Kentucky governor Steven Beshear has also ordered all county clerks to comply with the ruling. | Last month, a federal judge ordered Davis to abide by the supreme court’s June decision in response to a suit filed by two same-sex couples and two straight couples. Kentucky governor Steven Beshear has also ordered all county clerks to comply with the ruling. |
| The ACLU of Kentucky, which represents the four couples who filed the initial lawsuit, filed a contempt motion with US district judge David Bunning on Tuesday morning. | The ACLU of Kentucky, which represents the four couples who filed the initial lawsuit, filed a contempt motion with US district judge David Bunning on Tuesday morning. |
| The request, filed on behalf of a couple that was refused a marriage license on Tuesday, asks for the court to impose financial penalties on Davis. | The request, filed on behalf of a couple that was refused a marriage license on Tuesday, asks for the court to impose financial penalties on Davis. |
| The Rowan County attorney’s office said that a contempt of court hearing is scheduled for Thursday at 11am. | The Rowan County attorney’s office said that a contempt of court hearing is scheduled for Thursday at 11am. |
| By continuing to refuse to issue licenses, Davis risks being held in contempt of court by a federal judge, a charge that can come with fines or jail time. | By continuing to refuse to issue licenses, Davis risks being held in contempt of court by a federal judge, a charge that can come with fines or jail time. |
| Demonstrators stood outside the county clerk’s office on Tuesday morning in anticipation of Davis’s decision. Some wore rainbow colors in support of same-sex couples while others stood outside in support of Davis. | Demonstrators stood outside the county clerk’s office on Tuesday morning in anticipation of Davis’s decision. Some wore rainbow colors in support of same-sex couples while others stood outside in support of Davis. |
| Kim Davis tells same-sex couple they will face judgment in end. "do your job!" shouts protesters. ^JC pic.twitter.com/rQVz70xdPm | Kim Davis tells same-sex couple they will face judgment in end. "do your job!" shouts protesters. ^JC pic.twitter.com/rQVz70xdPm |
| But last week, Davis refused to issue licenses and on Friday night filed a request with the supreme court to stay the lower court’s decision. The supreme court, which is on summer recess, denied the request in a one-sentence order on Monday night. | But last week, Davis refused to issue licenses and on Friday night filed a request with the supreme court to stay the lower court’s decision. The supreme court, which is on summer recess, denied the request in a one-sentence order on Monday night. |
| Davis has appealed an earlier decision in the US sixth circuit court of appeals, where she claimed that issuing same-sex marriage licenses infringes on her freedom of conscience. | Davis has appealed an earlier decision in the US sixth circuit court of appeals, where she claimed that issuing same-sex marriage licenses infringes on her freedom of conscience. |
| Related: Same-sex marriage ruling backlash losing steam as judges uphold the law | Related: Same-sex marriage ruling backlash losing steam as judges uphold the law |
| Liberty Counsel, the Christian non-profit legal group that represents Davis, asked people to pray for Davis after the supreme court order was handed down. “Even though they can go to any of 137 other clerks, today the militant homosexuals who sued her will be on her front step FORCING her to choose between obeying Scripture or going to jail,” the group wrote on Facebook. | Liberty Counsel, the Christian non-profit legal group that represents Davis, asked people to pray for Davis after the supreme court order was handed down. “Even though they can go to any of 137 other clerks, today the militant homosexuals who sued her will be on her front step FORCING her to choose between obeying Scripture or going to jail,” the group wrote on Facebook. |
| In the request for a stay, Liberty Counsel recommended alternatives to Davis issuing the license, including removing Davis’ name from the license, developing a statewide online marriage process and allowing the county’s chief executive to issue licenses. | In the request for a stay, Liberty Counsel recommended alternatives to Davis issuing the license, including removing Davis’ name from the license, developing a statewide online marriage process and allowing the county’s chief executive to issue licenses. |