Former Kentucky County Clerk Kim Davis Ordered to Pay $260,000

Former Rowan County clerk Kim Davis was ordered to pay fees and expenses in the case of David Ermold and David Moore v. Kim Davis. The order states Davis must pay a total of $246,026.40 for attorney’s fees, and $14,058.30 for expenses to attorneys who represented a same-sex couple that she refused to issue a marriage license in 2015. The Plaintiffs Ermold and Moore were each awarded $50,000 by a federal jury in September 2023.

Davis’ refusal to issue the same-sex marriage licenses prompted former Kentucky Republican Governor Matt Bevin to remove county clerk names from marriage licenses in to response to the claims of religious objection.

Liberty Council founder Mat Staver, who represents Davis, released a statement in response to the jury awarding damages: “Because of Kim Davis, every clerk in Kentucky now has the freedom to serve as an elected official without compromising their religious convictions and conscience. This case has the potential to extend the same religious freedom protections beyond Kentucky and to overturn Obergefell v. Hodges, which was wrongly decided and should be overturned.”

The statement by Liberty Counsel said they plan on appealing the case, saying, “The cases have had discovery, two hearings and now final judgments on liability and on damages. Therefore, this case is ready to go up to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals and from there to the U.S. Supreme Court.”