Court Denies Kim Davis' Appeal to be Exempt From Issuing Gay Marriage Licenses

The sixth circuit court of appeals determined on Wednesday that Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis had not demonstrated a viable reason for having her office exempt from distributing marriage licenses to gay couples.

This is Davis' second attempt in recent weeks to request that the state government exempt her office from issuing licenses to gay couples.

As the Associated Press reports, the sixth circuit court of appeals determined Wednesday that Davis "has not demonstrated a substantial likelihood of success" in her legal bid to beome exempt.

Davis reportedly sued Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear after she was sued by four gay couples for refusing to personally issue gay marriage licenses. Davis had allowed her deputies to issue the licenses, but the licenses are lacking Davis' name and signature.

The clerk sued Beshear arguing that he allowed the gay couples to receive the licenses without Davis' approval. Beshear said in a comment last week that the licenses would be honored without Davis' signature.

"As a prisoner of her conscience, Davis continues to request a simple accommodation and exemption from Gov. Beshear, who is overseeing Kentucky marriage policy," Davis' lawyers argued in her defense.

The American Civil Liberties Union, which sued Davis on behalf of four gay couples who received the recent marriage licenses, said in a statement that Davis continues to avoid doing her government-appointed job.

Media outlets visiting the Rowan County Court House this week to witness the receiving of marriage licenses have indicated that Davis has remained in her office with her blinds drawn as deputies issue the marriage licenses to gay couples. The licenses reportedly lack Davis' signature and instead read "pursuant of a federal court order."