Kentucky clerk seeks to force governor to OK denial of gay marriage licenses

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

US | Mon Sep 7, 2015 1:44pm EDT

Kentucky clerk seeks to force governor to OK denial of gay marriage licenses

LOUISVILLE, KY.

Lawyers for jailed Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis said on Monday they had asked an appellate court to force Governor Steve Beshear to let her refuse to issue same-sex marriage licenses based on her religious convictions.

The lawyers sought emergency relief from the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals, asking it to grant Davis an exemption from the "Governor's mandate that all county clerks issue marriage licenses," the non-profit legal advocacy group Liberty Counsel, which represents Davis, said in a news release.

"The Governor’s refusal to take elementary steps to protect religious liberties has now landed Kim Davis in jail," Liberty Counsel founder and chairman Mat Staver said.

"As a prisoner of her conscience, Davis continues to request a simple accommodation and exemption from the Governor."

The exemption would cover all marriage licenses. Davis, 49, was in jail for a fifth day on Monday after defying a U.S. district judge's orders to issue licenses to same-sex couples because as a Christian she opposes gay marriage.

(Reporting by Steve Bittenbender; Editing by Barbara Goldberg and Tom Brown)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/09/07/us-usa-gaymarriage-kentucky-idUSKCN0R71XP20150907

[thecrow]

1. So now she wants the governor to be complicit?

Wouldn't that put him in jail also?

[Recursion]

2. Wow, that's the wrong play. Beshear will keep this woman in jail in a heartbeat.

Beshear has everything to gain and nothing to lose from Davis staying in jail, and he has an iron-clad alibi that his hands are tied because this is a Federal matter. Her smarter play was going to Stivers, but the bad blood between Beshear and Stivers is so strong that she may have just cut herself off from that by going to B. first.

[Vinca]

3. How on earth could the governor do that?

Then he'd also be in contempt and residing in a jail cell. This woman isn't the sharpest tack.

[GOLGO 13]

4. Ah, I see so it's the Governor's fault that she is breaking the law?

The Governor is a Democrat isn't he? Yeah, good luck you desperate tard.

[gollygee]

5. Does she understand the concept of "Supreme Court?"

The Governor is not a higher authority than the SCOTUS. FFS.

[djean111]

6. Is she saying that SHE would not be required to issue marriage licenses, or that no one in Kentucky

would be allowed to issue a marriage license?

[mnhtnbb]

7. She's no prisoner of her conscience: she's a prisoner because she refuses to resign from

her government job.

End of story.

Methinks Kimmie is getting tired of sitting in jail when I imagine she'd been assured
by her incompetent attorney that she'd be out by now.

[msongs]

8. she is no Joan D'Arc nt

[hobbit709]

9. How did this idiot ever pass the bar exam?

[Brother Buzz]

10. Governor Steve Beshear has already washed his hands of this mess

Beshear: Decision on Kim Davis 'speaks for itself'

September 3, 2015

FRANKFORT, Ky. The jailing of Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis for contempt of court by U.S. District Judge David Bunning has not prompted Gov. Steve Beshear to soften his opposition to calling a special session that some legislative leaders say could resolve Davis' dilemma.

"Judge Bunning's decision today speaks for itself," Beshear said in a statement. "The future of the Rowan County clerk continues to be a matter between her and the courts."

Beshear noted that deputy clerks in Rowan County have said they will resume issuing marriage licenses Friday and "it appears that the citizens of Rowan County will now have access to all the services from the clerk's office to which they are entitled."

Davis has cited her personal religious beliefs for defying a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling and refused to issue marriage licenses to gay couples.

<more>

http://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/2015/09/03/beshear-firm-no-kim-davis-special-session/71662670/