Supreme Court Upholds Landmark Same-Sex Marriage Ruling

Mon Nov 10 2025 23:08:38 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a significant decision, the U.S. Supreme Court has refused to overturn its 2015 ruling that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide, rejecting an appeal from Kim Davis, the former Kentucky clerk who garnered national attention for denying marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

The U.S. Supreme Court announced on Monday that it will not entertain an appeal from Kim Davis, a former Kentucky clerk who sought to overturn a lower court's order for her to reimburse same-sex couple damages stemming from her refusal to issue marriage licenses after the Obergefell v. Hodges decision. The ruling affirms the stability of same-sex marriage as a constitutional right, with Justice Amy Coney Barrett acknowledging potential distinctions between the same-sex marriage ruling and the recent abortion decision. Kelley Robinson, president of the Human Rights Campaign, praised the court's decision as a reinforcement of constitutional rights.

In a decision that has reaffirmed the constitutional rights of same-sex couples, the U.S. Supreme Court has declined to entertain a request to overturn its landmark ruling that legalized same-sex marriage across the nation.

The Court's decision came on Monday as it rejected an appeal from Kim Davis, a former clerk in Rowan County, Kentucky, who gained national notoriety for refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples following the Obergefell v. Hodges ruling in 2015.

Davis contested a lower court's ruling that mandated her to pay damages and attorney's fees totaling $360,000 to a couple she denied services. Her legal team argued that the original decision on same-sex marriage should be re-examined, referencing comments from Justice Clarence Thomas advocating for such a reversal.

Among the current justices, Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito, who dissented in the original ruling, have remained relatively silent on the topic in recent discussions. Justice Alito has criticized the decision, but has clarified he is not pushing for its reversal.

Adding nuance to the debate, Justice Amy Coney Barrett, not part of the court during the 2015 decision, expressed that some judicial decisions should indeed be revisited, contrasting the same-sex marriage ruling with the 2022 decision that ended federal protections for abortion rights.

Barrett has indicated that same-sex marriage could have unique implications due to the way many couples have built their lives around the ability to marry.

The ruling's affirmation is celebrated by many advocates for LGBTQ+ rights. Kelley Robinson, president of the Human Rights Campaign, remarked that the court's refusal to intervene highlights the need for respect towards the rights of individuals in a constitutional democracy.

Kim Davis made headlines across the country in 2015, invoking her religious beliefs as a justification for denying marriage licenses. Her actions led to her being jailed for contempt of court, though she later had her name removed from the licenses issued by her office.

Today’s ruling reinforces that the court will uphold decisions that reflect the rights of all citizens, solidifying same-sex marriage under the Constitution.