Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis, who refuses to issue marriage licenses despite a Supreme Court lifted same-sex marriage bans throughout the U.S., testified in court on Monday that her stance is based on religious grounds.
Davis is being sued by four Rowan County couples, represented by the ACLU of Kentucky, who were denied marriage licenses.
Rowan County is one of at least two counties that has refused to issue marriage licenses after the Supreme Court ruling.
On Monday, Davis said that she fasted and prayed about her decision to refuse marriage licenses, and that her right to do so on religious grounds is protected by the First Amendment.
Davis’ lawyers say that her actions are also protected by state and federal religious freedom laws.
Davis is being represented by Liberty Counsel, a non-profit law firm based in Florida that specializes in religious freedom cases.
John Christman, one of the lawyers with Liberty Counsel, said the plaintiffs can get married in other Kentucky counties and are singling out Davis.
“This case is by the day becoming much more about forcing Kim Davis as a person as an individual to approve and sign and authorize a marriage that she does not agree to and cannot call and deem marriage,” Christman said.
The plaintiffs in the case say that Rowan County residents have the right to get marriage licenses where they live and pay taxes.
U.S. District Judge David Bunning said he’ll have a ruling in case in the week of Aug. 11.
