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Kentucky Clerk Asks Court to Dismiss Gay Marriage Lawsuit

Ryland Barton | wfpl.org

A Kentucky clerk who spent five days in jail for refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples has asked a federal appeals court to dismiss a lawsuit against her because of a new state law that will take effect next month.

Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis stopped issuing marriage licenses after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling effectively legalized gay marriage last year.

Two gay couples and two straight couples sued her. A federal judge ordered her to issue the licenses, but she refused and went to jail.  

In April, the state legislature approved a new law removing the county clerks' names and authorizations from state marriage licenses.  

Davis says the law accommodates her religious beliefs and makes the lawsuit against her unnecessary.  A hearing was set for next month.