Kim Davis defies rule of law

Timothy Kincaid

September 1st, 2015

Kim DavisIt appears that at some point over the night, the Creator of the Universe took a few minutes for a very special meeting with Kim Davis, the Clerk of Rowan County, Kentucky. And at that meeting God deputized Davis as Deputy Deity and gave her special duties and powers, among which is the right to determine whose marriage is recognized by the state of Kentucky.

Or so Davis seems to believe. Because this morning when two same-sex couples turned up to get their marriage licenses, they were again turned away. (WaPo)

When Davis emerged, she declared that she was not issuing any licenses.

“Under whose authority?” she was asked.

“Under God’s authority,” she said.

Now, I tend to question the faith of those who jump to claim the authority of God. Surely if you believe that an omnipotent deity sees all you do, you’d hesitate a bit before stepping into His shoes and using His authority to push your will on His other children. The consequences of being wrong are so great.

So too are the consequences of defying a federal judge. (NBC)

Couples who have sued the clerk, Kim Davis of Rowan County, quickly asked a federal judge to hold her in contempt. They sought a fine but not jail time.

The contempt request was filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky on behalf of couples, both same-sex and opposite-sex, who sued Davis.

“Since Defendant Davis continues to collect compensation from the Commonwealth for duties she fails to perform,” lawyers wrote, “plaintiffs urge the Court to impose financial penalties sufficiently serious and increasingly onerous to compel Davis’ immediate compliance without further delay.”

A hearing on the contempt case is set for Thursday. I think that Davis will discover there that “My God trumps your legal authority” is a position that judges view askance.

And I think that the request for fines and not jail is a smart one. The imagery of Davis being dragged to jail would feed her martyrdom narrative while levying her salary may serve to incentivize her just as well.

MattNYC

September 1st, 2015

Unfortunately, we know that the GoFundMe bigots will more than make up for any fine.

I really think the only fair resolution is to have her removed from an office whose duties she refuses to perform. Then she won’t even need to fund raise.

Incompetence/Dereliction of duty should be more than sufficient. And each deputy should be challenged in court until one either agrees to do their job or an appointee of the court is assigned to serve as acting Clerk.

SharonB

September 1st, 2015

It’s easy when you think you are god, to act on the authority of god. I wonder if God authorized every one of her 4 marriages?

Mark F.

September 1st, 2015

She can only be removed from office by the Kentucky State Legislature, and they don’t have a regular session until next year. They could call a special session to impeach her.

I also don’t like the idea of making her a martyr, however. Maybe the court might compel other employees in the office to issue the licenses if she refuses.

Priya Lynn

September 1st, 2015

“Maybe the court might compel other employees in the office to issue the licenses if she refuses.”.

How’s the court going to compel other employees if it can’t compel her?

Soren456

September 1st, 2015

“She went to the garden alone, while the dew was still on the roses . . . . “

Rob

September 1st, 2015

Just read that she and her entire staff have been ordered to appear in court on Thursday morning.

Timothy Kincaid

September 1st, 2015

“… and the birds hushed their singing…”

Soren456

September 1st, 2015

“. . . and the joy they shared as they tarried there . . .

None other

has ever

known.”

Nathaniel

September 1st, 2015

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. If she wasn’t going to listen to any authority but “God”‘s, why did she bother with the appeals?

Hunter

September 2nd, 2015

It strikes me that Davis is exactly the wrong person to turn into a martyr: she’s a government official violating the constitutional rights of her constituents based on her personal religious beliefs. This is not a matter of running a privately owned business on “Christian” principles — this is using the government to discriminate. Americans in general don’t like that.

But then, the “Christian” right seems to recognize no limits.

I’m waiting for the backlash. “History is a series of reactions.”

Sandhorse

September 2nd, 2015

…Andy walks with me Andy talks with me…

Soren456

September 2nd, 2015

“. . . between the sheets . . . “

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