Judge dismisses civil suits against Kim Davis

A federal judge has dismissed three lawsuits filed against Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis for refusing to issue marriage licenses to gay couples last year.

Davis drew international attention in 2015 when she said her Christian religious beliefs prevented her from providing marriage licenses to same-sex couples despite the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that said the right to marry is guaranteed to same-sex couples by the U.S. Constitution. And Davis was jailed briefly for contempt of court by U.S. District Court Judge David Bunning.

And couples denied licenses filed the federal lawsuits claiming a violation of civil rights.

On Thursday, Judge Bunning issued an order dismissing the lawsuits. Bunning noted that last January Gov. Matt Bevin signed an order removing names of county clerks from marriage licenses, and that the General Assembly later passed legislation which creates a new marriage license form that does not require the county clerk's signature.

Read more: http://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/2016/08/19/judge-dismisses-civil-suits-against-kim-davis/89003208/