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Appeals court drops Kim Davis' lawsuit against former Kentucky governor

By Amy R. Connolly
A federal appeals court dismissed a lawsuit filed by Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis, seen here on Jan. 12, against the state for requiring her to issue same-sex marriage licenses. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI
A federal appeals court dismissed a lawsuit filed by Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis, seen here on Jan. 12, against the state for requiring her to issue same-sex marriage licenses. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo

FRANKFORT, Ky., April 21 (UPI) -- A federal appeals court dismissed a lawsuit filed by Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis against the state for requiring her to issue same-sex marriage licenses.

Davis filed a lawsuit against former Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear and other state officials after she was compelled by state law to sign the marriage licenses against her religious beliefs. In December, newly elected Republican Gov. Matt Bevin signed an executive order removing names from the license forms.

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"The revision of the official marriage license form eliminates any claim by Davis that she is suffering any serious or irreparable consequences as the result of the district court's order," the appeals court said.

Davis, the longtime Rowan County clerk, sparked controversy in August when she refused to issue marriage licenses to all couples after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling legalized gay marriage. She was jailed for five days for defying a judge's order to issue the licenses. She was sued by the American Civil Liberties Union. The lawsuit is pending.

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