Federal judge hears arguments in same-sex marriage civil case

A federal judge heard arguments about the Rowan County clerk who refuses to issue marriage licenses following the Supreme Court’s decision to legalized same-sex marriage.

The judge says this case is not about whether people agree or disagree with the Supreme Court. He didn’t make any decisions yet, just heard what both sides have to say.

Four couples, two same-sex and two opposite-sex, are suing Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis for not issuing them marriage licenses.

Davis’ lawyers say her Christian religious beliefs prevent her from authorizing same-sex marriages. They argue it is her first amendment right to deny the marriage license.

“We will defend Kim Davis’ right that she has as an American under the United States Constitution, which she’s sworn to upheld, she has the right to object on the basis of her sincere religious beliefs to issuing these marriage licenses in this case and these plaintiffs do not have a right to force her to do that,” said Roger Gannam who is representing Davis.

The couples all say they live, work and pay taxes in Rowan County, so they want to get married there. They say it is their right since the Supreme Court made same-sex marriage legal in all 50 states. Their attorney says Davis isn’t doing her job.

“They have every right in the world to go and get a license in the county in which they reside, why should they have to go someplace else?” asked Dan Canon, a defense attorney for this case.

The federal judge has delayed a decision.

Davis’ attorneys argued that because she has not been officially notified of the lawsuit, the court does not have jurisdiction over her. U.S. District Judge David Bunning allowed the hearing to continue, but later suspended it until after Davis has been properly notified.

The earliest the case could resume is next Monday, when Davis would be expected to testify.