Posted on 09/04/2015 8:45:19 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Defying legal decisions that go all the way up to the U.S. Supreme Court, Kim Davis, the Rowan County, Ky.., clerk, continued to deny marriage licenses on Wednesday in protest of same-sex marriage.
As Kentucky Public Radio's Ryland Barton reports, Davis, who has become a divisive figure in the national debate on same-sex marriage, has been summoned to a federal court on Thursday for a hearing on whether to hold her in contempt.
With that, here's what we know about Davis:
— She's A Born-Again Christian: The Associated Press reports that Davis' life changed in a church about four years ago.
The preacher, according to the AP, was speaking about the book of Galatians, and Davis repented for her sins and "pledged the rest of her life to the service of the Lord."
In a statement, Davis explained that she decided to go to church that day to honor the dying wish of her mother-in-law.
"There I heard a message of grace and forgiveness and surrendered my life to Jesus Christ," she wrote. "I am not perfect. No one is. But I am forgiven and I love my Lord and must be obedient to Him and to the Word of God."
— She Has Cited Her Religious Views For Her Stance: Davis has said her religious beliefs have driven her to deny same-sex couples marriage licenses.
In court, she testified that she prayed and fasted before making the decision to defy the highest court of the land.
"It wasn't just a spur-of-the-moment decision," she testified, according to The Courier-Journal. "It was thought out, and I sought God on it."
The newspaper reports:
"On the stand ... Davis described herself as an Apostolic Christian who believes marriage is defined as the union of one man and one woman under the Bible — 'God's holy word' — and said she contemplated her policy for months beforehand.
"She choked back tears at times as she argued that issuing licenses under her name would violate her religious beliefs, even if a deputy clerk performs the task in her stead.
" 'If I say they are authorized, I'm saying I agree with it, and I can't,' Davis said."
— Davis Has Been Divorced Three Times: According to marriage licenses obtained by BuzzFeed, Davis has been married four times — twice to the same man.
She first married at age 18 in 1984. She later married Joe Davis in 1996. She married a third time in 2007 and then married Davis again in 2009.
Her marriage record has been used by critics to point out what they see as Davis' hypocrisy. During a tense standoff with a gay couple on Tuesday, one man pointedly asked her what was the longest she had been with one partner.
In response, Davis' attorney said that Davis acknowledged she had made "major mistakes" in the past.
"She's regretful and sorrowful," her attorney Mat Staver said, according to the AP. "That life she led before is not the life she lives now. She asked for and received forgiveness and grace. That's why she has such a strong conscience."
— She Was Elected To Her Position: Davis, a Democrat, won a 2014 election for Rowan County clerk handily — 53 percent to 46 percent.
Davis took the keys of the office from her mother, Jean Bailey, who held the position for 37 years.
The night Davis won, she gave an interview to The Morehead News.
"My words can never express the appreciation but I promise to each and every one that I will be the very best working clerk that I can be and will be a good steward of their tax dollars and follow the statutes of this office to the letter," Davis said.
— She Can't Be Fired: Because Davis is an elected official and is accountable to the voters, she can't be fired from her job.
According to a report by the Kentucky Legislative Research Commission, Davis would have to be removed by the legislature. According to the Kentucky constitution, she would have to be impeached by the state's House of Representatives and tried by the state's Senate.
As the Research Commission points out, "because it is a reversal of the inherent power of the people in a democratic society to choose those who govern, it is a power rarely exercised."
Defund NPR.
(Republicans voted last month to keep NPR/PBS funding at current levels)
“....Defying legal decisions that go all the way up to the U.S. Supreme Court...”
Izzat the same Supreme Court that OK’d slavery?
Thought so.
Shove it, NPR....up your Obamahole.
The Old First Amendment to the US Constitution as read by me:
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
The New First Amendment to the US Constitution as Read by the Courts:
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, except Congress may prohibit the free exercise of religion for public officials and business enterprises when their beliefs conflict with official duties or the ordinary course of their commerce, and upon objection made by a public official or business enterprise, proscribe the free exercise of religion with jail and/or fines as a contempt of court, or barring from public office or from engaging in commerce in the United States of America; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
The living, breathing Constitution.
“[Why she can’t be fired]”
You can’t ‘fire’ an elected official.
Nice take-down NPR, now what specific law is she breaking again?
A modern Rosa Park...
This happens in KY so friggin' often, it's to weep.
Political offices there are handed down as part of estate sales.
I am so glad I'm not there anymore...
bump
The only facts that matter are 1) the position is elected, and 2) what avenues within the State of Kentucky are available for removal of a Clerk?
Number of divorces, religion (when gained, how strong) don’t matter except that claiming actions against her religious beliefs should not be sanctionable - lest every specious MUSLIM claim be similarly ignored.
MUSLIMS and queers cite their ‘personal objections’ all the time. How is it that their objections are so much more important.
Screw this government very much.
Oddly, once the federal judge set up his judgement....he’s invalidated Kentucky law, but there’s nothing to replace it (like new Kentucky law). So, the Feds might be able to prosecute on the angle that she’s not obeying the judge, but since there’s no federal law covering this, and no state law, I’d be curious how he’ll handle it other than holding her in jail until she agrees to participate with his will.
In this gal’s situation...I think she’s willing to do not just days, weeks and months...but years.
What’s interesting here if you compare foreign law....for example, in Germany....if the Supremes in Germany say that some state or federal law is wrong....then they give them a year for legislative process to crank up a new law and pass it.
NPR view of a county clerk who illegally issued marriage licenses to Homosexuals:
http://www.npr.org/2014/07/18/332344999/colo-clerk-recalls-issuing-same-sex-marriage-licenses-in-1975
RE: except Congress may prohibit the free exercise of religion for public officials and business enterprises when their beliefs conflict with official duties or the ordinary course of their commerce, and upon objection made by a public official or business enterprise, proscribe the free exercise of religion with jail and/or fines as a contempt of court, or barring from public office or from engaging in commerce in the United States of America; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
_________________________________
Well, let’s say for the sake of argument ( ridiculous as it is ) that the above is written into the constitution... when did Congress PASS A LAW legalizing same-sex marriage?
THEY DID NOT.
What happened was 5 black robed people sitting in Washington DC decided to write the law for the nation, something they are NOT ALLOWED TO DO by the constitution.
I hope the people who see the divorce section of the hit pieces realize this was before her conversion from Liberal to Christian.
Wow!................and the governor of KY is a Democrat, as well...............
“Defund NPR.”
Seems to me that our time would be better spent, making new law that would provide for the citizens being able to vote on all Judges ( including the SCOTUS) in retention elections every few years. Make them all accountable to us.
In Florida, I don’t know about KY, the governor can remove any elected official in any county from office for malfeasance, felony or incompetence..............
THIS is news? Had this been written during the Montgomery bus boycott, would it have read as follows?
Rosa Parks, who has become a divisive figure in the national debate on civil rights, has been summoned to a municipal court on Thursday for a hearing on whether to hold her in contempt.
You don’t see it.
I don’t see it.
But, obviously, the Court sees it.
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