Kim Davis, a Kentucky clerk, was jailed last Thursday, Sept. 3, for contempt after defying the Supreme Court ruling in favor of same-sex marriage and a federal court order requiring Davis to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. According to the New York Times, Davis believed she was “acting under God’s authority” and argued that granting marriage licenses to same-sex couples violates her Christian beliefs.
Davis was appointed in January, succeeding her mother, who held the office of Rowan County Clerk for 37 years. Davis also rejected the plea bargain offered to her, choosing to stay in jail instead of allowing her deputies to grant marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Davis’ actions have sparked the support of Evangelical voters, who have chosen to view her as a defender of the faith rather than just another law-breaking citizen.
Many of the Republican nominees have also gotten behind Davis’ actions –despite the fact that she ran as a Democrat during her campaign for county clerk –declaring their support for her and the cause she represents.
“Today, judicial lawlessness crossed into judicial tyranny,” Texas Senator Ted Cruz said in a public statement regarding the event, an interesting view considering the issue at stake is in fact law-breaking, not just at the state-level, but at the federal, and, some would even say, constitutional level.
The judge’s decision to incarcerate Davis resulted in protests outside the courthouse, from supporters and opponents alike, and a very poignant comment from Davis’ husband, Joe Davis, who, according to the New York Times, said to “tell Judge Bunning he’s a butt.”