Clerk who denied same-sex marriage licenses hit with $360,000 ruling

By Chris Boyette | CNN

The former Kentucky county clerk who in 2015 declined to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples must pay $260,000 in fees and expenses to the couple’s attorneys in addition to the $100,000 in damages awarded by a jury last year, a federal judge ruled.

Kim Davis, ex–clerk of Rowan County in northeastern Kentucky, became a national figure in 2015 when she defied the US Supreme Court ruling that legalized same-sex marriage. Davis refused to sign marriage licenses to same-sex couples, citing her religious beliefs. At the time, US District Judge David Bunning found her in contempt of court and ordered her to jail, and she spent five days behind bars.

David Ermold and David Moore sued Davis after being denied marriage licenses multiple times by her or her office. In 2022, Bunning ruled Davis violated their constitutional rights, and in September 2023 a jury awarded the couple $100,000 in damages.

Last week, Bunning ruled in favor of the couple on the question of whether Davis should pay attorneys’ fees.

“Having obtained summary judgment on liability and a jury award of damages, Plaintiffs are unquestionably the ‘prevailing party’ and are entitled to an award of attorneys’ fees and expenses,” Bunning, who was nominated to the court by former President George W. Bush, wrote in his order.