The Supreme Court declined to overturn its same-sex marriage decision

The U.S. Supreme Court has recently denied an appeal from former Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis, who sought to overturn its landmark 2015 ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges that legalized same-sex marriage. The court’s decision effectively upholds a lower court’s order requiring Davis to pay $360,000 in attorneys’ fees and damages to a couple she denied a marriage license. The ruling signifies that the issue of same-sex marriage remains settled law in the United States.Davis gained national attention when she refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, citing her religious beliefs, which led to her brief incarceration. Her case highlighted the tension between individual religious beliefs and legal obligations, particularly when it comes to civil rights. Following her refusal, multiple couples sued her, culminating in the financial penalty ordered by a jury.

While the Supreme Court did not provide a rationale for its denial of Davis’s appeal, the decision has drawn interest in light of the recent shift in the Court’s dynamics, especially following its overturning of Roe v. Wade. Mat Staver, the founder of Liberty Counsel—who represented Davis—expressed a belief that Obergefell was incorrectly decided and stated a commitment to continue advocating for its reversal. Staver invoked remarks from Justice Clarence Thomas, who has emerged as a vocal critic of Obergefell and has suggested the Court should reconsider the ruling.

Despite the rejection of Davis’s case, the Supreme Court’s decision not to hear her appeal does not establish any legal precedent regarding the validity of same-sex marriage. Future cases could still arise, and if they do, the Court would evaluate them based on the merits presented at that time. This leaves open the possibility that similar challenges to Obergefell could be reconsidered down the line, depending on the circumstances.

Overall, the denial signifies the Supreme Court’s commitment to maintaining the current legal status of same-sex marriage while also illustrating the ongoing debate surrounding the intersection of religious beliefs and civil rights in the United States.