Overview
- Kim Davis had asked the Court to overturn Obergefell v. Hodges and to recognize a First Amendment defense for her refusal to issue marriage licenses.
- By denying review, the Court left intact lower‑court rulings, including $100,000 in jury damages and more than $260,000 in attorneys’ fees against Davis.
- The order was brief and unsigned with no noted dissents, indicating the petition did not secure the four votes required to grant review.
- The Sixth Circuit ruled that a public official’s actions in an official capacity are not shielded by personal free‑exercise rights under the First Amendment.
- The denial sets no new precedent; Obergefell stands nationwide, and the 2022 Respect for Marriage Act continues to provide a federal recognition backstop.