Judge David L. Bunning To Kim Davis: ‘Every Public Official Is Subject To The Rule Of Law’

A federal circuit court judge, David L. Bunning, ordered the Kentucky County Clerk, Kim Davis, to be thrown in jail for refusing to abide by the rulings of the Supreme Court to issue marriage license to gay couples. Kim Davis, a few months ago, refused to issue licenses based on her religious beliefs and filed a motion to the supreme court.

She was sued by some gay couples for this reason and this eventually led to her being thrown in jail.

The judge declined to fine Davis because he said outside sources could easily fund and pay those fines. She was handed over to custody of the U.S. Marshals. The judge’s ruling was beyond the couples who sued Davis this summer.

According to Some News, Kim’s illegal refusal to issue same sex marriage licenses on religious grounds come after Davis herself has been divorced three times and married four, which is also strictly forbidden in the Bible.

Ms. Davis is a strong Apostolic Christian who strongly believes in her faith.

“Marriage is between one man and one woman,” Ms. Davis said during a frequently tearful turn on the witness stand on Thursday. When Mr. Gannam, one of her lawyers, asked whether she approved of same-sex marriage, she replied, “It’s not of God.”

Kim said she did not have to think of it, there was no choice there. After she was taken to jail, her deputies had to comply with the law. They said on Thursday that they were willing to break free from her demands and comply with the judge’s order.

“I don’t really want to, but I will follow the law,” one deputy, Melissa Thompson, told the judge. “I’m a preacher’s daughter, and this is the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life.”

According to the New York Times, hours after the ruling, some presidential candidates, as well as many Christian conservatives, declared their support for her.

Kim Davis supporters were expecting a fine, not jail time, and they were very surprised by the judge’s ruling.

“It’s unusual for the court to go beyond what the plaintiffs asked for,” Suzanna Sherry, a law professor at Vanderbilt University, said.

Judge Bunning, however, said from the bench that he believed fining Ms. Davis “would not bring about the desired result of compliance.”

“We’re going to the courthouse tomorrow to get our marriage license; we’re very excited about that,” said April Miller, who sued after she and her partner were denied a license. “We’re saddened by the fact that Ms. Davis has been incarcerated. We look forward to tomorrow, as a couple, it will be a very important day in our lives.”

A lawyer for the couples, William Sharp, said “Thursday’s ruling demonstrated that religious liberty is not a sword with which government, through its employees, may impose particular religious beliefs on others.”

How do you feel about the judge’s decisions?

[Image courtesy: Carter County Detention Center]