A federal judge on Monday suspended
proceedings in a case challenging a Kentucky clerk's claim that her
office can refuse to issue marriage licenses to gay and lesbian
couples based on her faith.
The American Civil Liberties Union
(ACLU) of Kentucky filed a class action lawsuit against Rowan County
Clerk Kim Davis after she decided to stop issuing marriage licenses
to all couples rather than serve gay couples.
Plaintiffs in the case are four couples
who were refused a license from Davis' office. Half of the couples
are gay.
Following the Supreme Court's ruling
striking down marriage bans in all 50 states, Davis pledged never to
issue a marriage licenses to a gay couple, saying it would be a
violation of her Christian faith.
“It's a deep-rooted conviction; my
conviction won't allow me to do that,” Davis said. “It goes
against everything I hold dear, everything sacred in my life.”
Davis' attorneys told U.S. District
Judge David Bunning that the court does not have jurisdiction over
Davis, who failed to appear at the hearing, because she has not been
officially notified of the litigation.
Bunning suspended the hearing until
Davis could be notified.
Outside the courthouse supporters and
opponents of marriage equality demonstrated. Mike Wynn
(@MikeWynn_CJ) tweeted a photo of a man holding a red banner that
read, “Love is love.”