History of Kim Davis in Timeline

Kim Davis is an American former county clerk for Rowan County, Kentucky. In 2015, she refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, defying a U.S. federal court order. This act garnered international attention and sparked a debate about religious freedom versus the legal rights of same-sex couples. Davis's actions were rooted in her Apostolic Christian beliefs, which define marriage as between one man and one woman. She was briefly jailed for contempt of court before licenses were issued by her deputies. The controversy raised questions about the duties of public officials when their religious beliefs conflict with the law.

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Full Timeline

September 24, 2015: Davis Meets with Pope Francis

On September 24, 2015, Kim Davis and her husband met with Pope Francis at the Apostolic Nunciature to the United States in Washington, D.C., during the Pope's U.S. visit. According to Davis and her lawyer, the Pope told Davis to "stay strong" and gave her two rosaries.

November 6, 2015: Governor Bevin Issues Executive Order Regarding Marriage Licenses

On November 6, 2015, newly elected Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin issued an executive order to remove clerks' names from state marriage licenses. He expressed hope that the order would protect the religious beliefs of officials opposed to gay marriage. Kim Davis requested the court dismiss her appeals due to the new regulation providing religious accommodation.

December 2015: Jennifer Lawrence Comments on Kim Davis

In the December 2015 issue of Vogue, actress Jennifer Lawrence told Jonathan Van Meter that Kim Davis is a "lady that makes me embarrassed to be from Kentucky."

January 2016: Davis Believes "We Are Living in End Times"

In an interview in January 2016, Kim Davis said that she believed that "we are living in end times." Davis also expressed her view that the Bible is infallible.

June 30, 2016: Attorney General's Office Determines Davis Violated Open Records Act

On June 30, 2016, the Kentucky Attorney General's Office determined that Kim Davis violated the Open Records Act. The office stated that Davis's conduct had the effect of "intentionally frustrating the attorney general's review of an open records request," which "would subvert the General Assembly's intent behind providing review by the attorney general."

July 2017: Davis Sued for Refusing Marriage License to a Laptop

In July 2017, Kim Davis was sued for failing to issue a marriage license to Mark Sevier, a Vanderbilt University Law School graduate, who wanted to marry a laptop computer.

May 2018: Davis Runs for Reelection

In May 2018, Kim Davis ran for reelection as a Republican. She did not face any challengers in the Republican primary. Four Democrats ran in the primary, and the winner was Elwood Caudill Jr., whom Davis narrowly defeated in the Democratic primary in 2014.

February 2019: Governor Bevin Rejects State Bearing Financial Responsibility for Davis's Legal Fees

In February 2019, Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin formally rejected the idea of Kentucky bearing the $222,000 financial responsibility for Kim Davis's legal fees, stating that Davis alone should pay. However, a judge issued a preliminary injunction ordering the state to pay her legal fees, asserting that Davis represented the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

August 23, 2019: Court Upholds Decision for Kentucky to Pay Legal Bill

On August 23, 2019, the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a decision ordering Kentucky to pay a $225,000 legal bill related to the emotional damages claims by plaintiff couple David Ermold and David Moore.

March 18, 2022: Judge Rules Davis Violated Constitutional Rights

On March 18, 2022, a judge ruled that Kim Davis violated the constitutional rights in the Miller and Ermold cases, stating that she cannot use her own constitutional rights as a shield to violate the rights of others while performing her duties as an elected official.

September 13, 2023: Jury Orders Davis to Pay Damages to Ermold and Moore

On September 13, 2023, a jury ordered Kim Davis to pay David Ermold and David Moore $100,000 in damages, and an additional $260,000 in attorneys' fees and expenses was added.

July 2025: Davis's Lawyers File Writ of Certiorari with U.S. Supreme Court

In July 2025, Kim Davis's lawyers from Liberty Counsel filed a writ of certiorari with the U.S. Supreme Court, seeking to reverse the jury's verdict, overturn a 2022 decision, and overturn the Obergefell decision.