Supreme Court to Review Same-Sex Marriage Ruling

The U.S. Supreme Court has set a date to hear arguments concerning a challenge to a 2015 decision that affirmed the right to same-sex marriage. This is scheduled for November 7.

Kim Davis, a former county clerk, faced a $100,000 fine after she refused to issue a marriage license to a same-sex couple, citing her religious beliefs. Additionally, she served five days in jail for contempt of court related to her actions.

In her appeal to the Supreme Court, Davis argues that the original ruling has no constitutional foundation and should be overturned. “If there was ever a pivotal case regarding religious beliefs about marriage, this should be it,” she stated.

District Judge David Banning criticized Davis, noting that she, in her role as an elected official, used her constitutional rights to infringe on the rights of others.

The appeal specifically contests the constitutionality of the Obergefell v. Hodges decision, claiming it unjustly violated Davis’ religious rights.

Notably, three justices who supported the original ruling no longer sit on the Supreme Court. Chief Justice John Roberts expressed dissent, previously describing the Obergefell decision as lacking constitutional grounding and characterizing it as “an act of will, not a legal decision.”

According to Matt Staver, founder of Liberty Counsel, the case spotlighted why the Supreme Court needs to reassess flawed decisions like Obergefell, emphasizing that it threatens the religious liberties of those who see marriage as a sacred bond between a man and a woman. He criticized both Roe v. Wade and Obergefell as fundamentally incorrect from the outset.

Should the court opt not to take on the case, the announcement of that decision could occur by November 10.