A federal judge in Kentucky has dismissed three lawsuits against Kim Davis, the county clerk of Rowan County, for her refusal to allow her office to issue marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples.

U.S. District Court Judge David Bunning dismissed the cases on Thursday.

Davis refused to issue the marriage licenses after the Supreme Court's June 2015 finding that gay couples have a constitutional right to marry. She claimed that issuing the licenses would violate her conscience. Bunning briefly jailed Davis for contempt of court.

Davis later stated that she hopes her public opposition to marriage equality will encourage others to take a stand.

Plaintiffs in the lawsuits were couples who were denied licenses. They argue that their civil rights were violated.

“[I]n view of the fact that the marriage licenses continue to be issued without incident, there no longer remains a case or controversy before the Court,” Bunning wrote in dismissing the claims of couples.

The ACLU of Kentucky, which represents some of the couples, has not said whether it will appeal the ruling.

[Hat tip to Equality Case Files]