A federal judge today ordered an elected Kentucky county clerk held for contempt of court after she refused to obey his order to resume issuing marriage licenses. U.S. District Judge David Bunning said he chose not to fine Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis because her supporters were planning to raise money to pay the fine.
David Bunning is the son of former U.S. Senator Jim and Mary Bunning who live in Southgate.
Davis is now in the custody of U.S. marshals. Kentucky law allows the elected county judge-executive, the chief administrative official, to issue marriage licenses “in the absence of the clerk,” but it remains to be seen if Bunning’s action clears the way for Judge-Executive Walter Blevins to do that.
Two other Kentucky clerks, in Casey and Whitley counties, have refused to issue marriage licenses because of their objections to same-sex marriage, but they have not been sued. Neither have any of those in Alabama taking the same stand. The group Freedom to Marry says its surveys of clerks have found 13 in Alabama refusing to issue licenses, Greg Sargent reports for The Washington Post.
From Rural Blog, a digest of events, trends, issues, ideas and journalism from and about rural America, from the IRJCI, based at the University of Kentucky. The Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues is an extension program for rural journalists and news outlets. It takes no positions on issues and advocates only for strong news coverage, responsible commentary and things that make them possible, such as open-government laws. For more information see www.RuralJournalism.org.
Read what NKyTribune columnist Bill Straub has to say.