Posted on 09/14/2023 1:43:31 PM PDT by Ennis85
A federal jury has awarded $100,000 to a same-sex couple who sued a former county clerk in Kentucky who refused to issue them a marriage license, claiming that doing so would violate her religious beliefs.
Kim Davis, the former clerk in Rowan County, Ky., was sued by two same-sex couples to whom she refused to grant marriage licenses. The district court found Davis personally liable in both cases, but only awarded damages in one.
In the case Ermold v. Davis, the jury awarded $50,000 to each of the plaintiffs, David Ermold and David Moore, according to attorneys for Davis. No damages were awarded in the case Yates v. Davis.
A federal judge ruled last year that Davis had violated the plaintiffs' constitutional rights.
Ermold and Moore's co-counsel, Joe Buckles, told NPR he was "thrilled" and that his clients were "completely vindicated" by the jury's verdict.
"The Supreme Court says that my clients have a constitutional right to marry under the 14th Amendment," said Buckles. "But this case isn't really about [Davis's] religion. The case isn't really about our clients' right to marry. The case is about a government official that just refused to do her job. It's a pretty simple case."
Damages of $50,000 each for Ermold and Moore was the full amount his clients requested, Buckles said.
Rene Heinrich, an attorney who represented James Yates and Will Smith in the other case, said she celebrates with Ermold and Moore, but is disappointed at the verdict of no damages for her clients.
"I can only say that our clients were gutted and even more dejected when after 8 years yet another group of people decided that while their Constitutional rights were broken and they were thrust into a circus not of their making, they suffered no damages," she said in an email to NPR.
Buckles called it a "terrible injustice" that the jury awarded nothing in damages to the other couple: "Their rights were violated, too. I find it shocking that a jury would award zero dollars for their violation of their constitutional rights."
The plaintiffs have 30 days to petition for their attorney fees and costs to be covered.
The saga began in 2015 after the Supreme Court declared same-sex marriage legal in all 50 states with the Obergefell v. Hodges decision. Davis declared that issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples went against her beliefs as a member of the Apostolic Church that marriage should only be between one man and one woman.
Eventually a deputy clerk approved the two couples' requests for marriage licenses, and Davis went to jail for five days for contempt of court. She was later defeated in her bid for reelection — a race that briefly saw Ermold vie for the position.
"We look forward to appealing this decision for Kim Davis," said Mat Staver, an attorney for Davis. "We will argue religious accommodation under the First Amendment, and other state and federal laws. We will also argue that Obergefell v. Hodges was wrongly decided and should be overturned."
An appeal in the case would head to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. The Supreme Court previously declined to hear an appeal from Davis' lawyers in 2020.
We truly live in a fascist country.
Jesus said in His Word that in the last days evil people will do evil things. Unless we repent and turn from our wicked ways as a nation . . . . it will get worse.
“But this case isn’t really about [Davis’s] religion. The case isn’t really about our clients’ right to marry. The case is about a government official that just refused to do her job. It’s a pretty simple case.”
No, it’s really about coercing people to kowtow to the GLBT+ agenda.
More proof the courts are absolute garbage.
She’s going to need a gofundme.
Does this mean us conservatives can sue the pants off of government official who don’t do their jobs?
“Unless we repent and turn from our wicked ways as a nation . . . “
People can’t repent unless the Holy Spirit prepares them right?
So unless the Holy Spirit is getting real busy, I don’t think it’s going to happen. I’d like to be an optimist, but the world done beat the optimism out of me long ago.
No. Only faggots, communists, and black racists get to do that.
This is why government should not be involved in the institution of marriage. You want a divorce, then take it to court, the Church or wherever.
Only an individual can repent ...
This country is unrecognizable.
Gofundme = left wing organization
Givesendgo = right wing organization
Gay Rights 2003: We just want to love who we love
Gay Rights 2023: You fascist! don't protest us teaching gay sex in schools or using government to promote our agenda, and suppress opposition. You will submit!
Indeed the justice system hit hardest.
These sick perverted bastards would never do this to a Mooslim.
“Does this mean us conservatives can sue the pants off of government official who don’t do their jobs?
No. Only faggots, communists, and black racists get to do that. “
Exactly !
We need our Own Homeland !
Evil people have been doing evil things ever since the beginning of time though.
Not one cent to the faggots and their lawyers.
This can’t stand. It will be overturned on appeal just like the Colorado bakery was. The Jurors and the courts should be on the hook for all legal fees, but they won’t.
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