Kentucky Clerk Refusing to Issue Marriage Licenses Has Been Summoned by a Federal Judge

Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis has been summoned by U.S. District Judge David Bunning to explain why she shouldn’t be jailed or fined for contempt.

Davis has been making headlines since she stopped issuing marriage licenses after the Supreme Court legalized gay marriage. The Supreme Court ruled against her request to be excused from issuing such licenses. Many gay and straight couples have been denied marriage licenses by her multiple times and have filed lawsuits against Davis.

Davis issued this statement:

"To issue a marriage license which conflicts with God's definition of marriage, with my name affixed to the certificate, would violate my conscience. It is not a light issue for me. It is a Heaven or Hell decision," her statement said. "I was elected by the people to serve as the County Clerk. I intend to continue to serve the people of Rowan County, but I cannot violate my conscience."

Since Davis is an elected official, she can’t be fired. She would have to be impeached during the Legislature’s regular session, which isn’t until next year.

Lawyers have requested that Judge Bunning punish her by having her pay out of pocket rather than jail time:

"Since Defendant Davis continues to collect compensation from the Commonwealth for duties she fails to perform," they asked Bunning to "impose financial penalties sufficiently serious and increasingly onerous" to compel her immediate compliance without delay.

Davis and her staff are scheduled to go before Judge David Bunning Thursday morning. 

Do you agree with Kim Davis? Why or why not?