Defiant Kentucky Clerk Jailed for Refusing to Issue Same-Sex Marriage Licenses
September 03 2015 - 2:13PM
Dow Jones News
By Arian Campo-Flores
ASHLAND, Ky.--A federal judge declared a Kentucky county clerk
who opposes same-sex unions on religious grounds in contempt of
court for defying his order and had her placed in the custody of
U.S. Marshals until she complies.
Kim Davis, the Rowan County clerk, had unsuccessfully appealed
all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court to delay an order by the
judge that she issue marriage licenses to all qualified couples,
gay or straight.
"The court does not do this lightly," said U.S. District Judge
David Bunning of the Eastern District of Kentucky. But "it's
necessary in this case."
He said Ms. Davis had made clear that she would continue to
violate his order and that imposing fines on her would be
insufficient to force her to comply.
Judge Bunning said that failing to take action against Ms. Davis
would set a "dangerous precedent." It would allow other people to
assume they could pick and choose which court orders they would
follow.
"Thank you, Judge," Ms. Davis said as she was escorted from the
courtroom by marshals.
Write to Arian Campo-Flores at arian.campo-flores@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
September 03, 2015 13:58 ET (17:58 GMT)
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