The US Supreme Court has declined to revisit its landmark 2015 ruling that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide, rejecting an appeal by a former Kentucky county clerk who refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Kim Davis, the former clerk, had asked the court to overturn a lower court’s order directing her to pay $360,000 in damages and attorney’s fees to a couple she denied a license.
The court’s decision comes after Davis’s legal team cited comments from Justice Clarence Thomas, who has questioned the legitimacy of the 2015 ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges. Thomas, along with Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito, dissented in the original case. While Roberts has not publicly revisited the issue, Alito has continued to criticize the decision, although he recently stated that he was not advocating for its reversal.
Justice Amy Coney Barrett, who joined the court after the 2015 ruling, has suggested that the court can overturn past decisions when necessary, but noted that same-sex marriage may be different from other cases, such as abortion, due to its widespread reliance in family lives. Davis, who cited her Christian faith in refusing to issue marriage licenses, became a national figure in 2015 when she defied court orders and was jailed for contempt.
The controversy surrounding Davis’s actions led to changes in Kentucky’s marriage license laws, with the legislature removing clerks’ names from the licenses statewide. Davis lost her reelection bid in 2018. The Supreme Court’s decision to reject her appeal reinforces the 2015 ruling, which has had significant implications for same-sex couples across the United States.
The case has also highlighted the ongoing debate over the balance between individual rights and freedoms, including the right to same-sex marriage and the freedom of conscience. The Supreme Court’s decision not to revisit the 2015 ruling ensures that same-sex couples will continue to have the right to marry nationwide, despite ongoing challenges from some individuals and groups.
The rejection of Davis’s appeal brings an end to her legal challenge, but the issue of same-sex marriage remains a topic of discussion and debate in the United States. The Supreme Court’s decision is seen as a significant milestone in the ongoing struggle for LGBTQ+ rights, and its impact will continue to be felt in the years to come.