Who is Kim Davis? The 'God-Fearing' County Clerk Who Defied the Supreme Court Over Gay Marriage

In 2015, Kim Davis, the county clerk of Rowan County in Kentucky, refused to issue marriage licences to same-sex couples after the United States Supreme Court ruled that such unions were constitutionally protected. Her refusal placed her in direct conflict with the law and turned a small county office into the centre of a national debate.

Davis argued that authorising same-sex marriages would violate her Christian beliefs. The decision led to legal action, her brief imprisonment, and widespread public scrutiny. Supporters hailed her as a defender of religious liberty, while critics accused her of denying equal rights.

A decade later, her actions remain a touchstone in the discussion over how far personal conscience should influence the duties of public office. The case continues to be cited in debates about the limits of religious freedom and the responsibility of elected officials to uphold the law.

Background and Rise to Office

Kimberly Jean Bailey Davis was born in 1965 in Morehead, Kentucky. Before entering elected office, she worked for many years in the county clerk's office under her mother, Jean W Bailey, who held the post for more than three decades. When her mother retired, Davis ran for the position and was elected in late 2014, taking office the following January, according to Newsweek.

She identifies as an Apostolic Christian, a denomination known for its strict interpretation of the Bible. As county clerk, she was responsible for issuing marriage licences on behalf of the state. Only months after she took office, the US Supreme Court ruled in Obergefell v Hodges (2015) that same-sex couples had the constitutional right to marry, bringing her beliefs into direct conflict with her professional duties, according to the US National Constitutional Center.

Faith, Duty and Legal Orders

Following the ruling, Davis announced that her office would stop issuing marriage licences entirely. She said she could not authorise a certificate bearing her name that contradicted her understanding of biblical teaching, according to the Washington Post.

Two same-sex couples filed lawsuits, and a federal judge ordered her to resume issuing licences. Davis refused and was held in contempt of court. She spent five days in jail in September 2015 before being released on the condition that she would not prevent her deputies from carrying out the task, ABC13 Houston reported.

Her office later issued licences without her name, and a court confirmed they were valid. The case divided public opinion. Some praised her faith, while others said she had failed to uphold her oath as a public official, according to CBS News.

Aftermath and Continuing Impact

The controversy prompted Kentucky lawmakers to remove county clerks' names from marriage licences. Courts later ruled that Davis had violated the constitutional rights of the couples she refused to serve. In 2023, a federal jury awarded one couple damages of about US$100,000 (around £76,000), according to AP News.

Davis lost her re-election bid in 2018 and left office the following year. She has continued to defend her actions and remains active in faith-based circles. In 2025, the US Supreme Court declined to revisit her appeal against the marriage-equality ruling, leaving the precedent in place.

Her story remains a key reference point in the wider debate over religious freedom in public life. For some, she embodies the struggle for conscience rights within government roles. For others, her defiance underscores that public officials must carry out the law regardless of personal belief, as the United States continues to navigate the balance between faith, law and equality.