Ky. County Clerk Awarded Stay in Refusing Same-Sex Marriage Licenses

A Kentucky county clerk opposed to issuing same-sex marriage licenses based on her religious beliefs has been given a stay as she takes her case to a higher court.

Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis had requested more time to halt her issuing of same-sex marriage licenses as she takes her case to the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. U.S. District Judge David Bunning determined that although Davis should keep issuing the licenses, she may receive a stay as she appeals her case.

Davis, who is being represented by the Liberty Counsel, has said that she cannot issue marriage licenses to same-sex partners based on her religious beliefs.

According to the Associated Press, Davis told a federal court last month that she did not decide her same-sex marriage stance following the June Supreme Court ruling that made same-sex marriage a constitutional right. Rather, she has always followed her Christian belief regarding marriage.

"This is not something I decided because of this decision that came down," Davis said in court. "It was thought-out and, you know, I sought God on it."

Liberty Counsel founder Mathew Staver, who is representing Davis, previously said that his client's plight is just an example of the issue of religious rights facing many Americans.

"Kim Davis is just an example of what's going to be happening not only to other clerks but to other people who are going to be confronted with this issue and we think that this is a serious matter that needs to be decided by a higher court, even the Supreme Court," Staver said.