The former Rowan County clerk who denied marriage licenses to a gay couple lost her latest bid to overturn $360,000 in damages, attorney fees, and expenses.
U.S. District Judge David Bunning wrote that Kim Davis’s refusal to issue a marriage license to David Ermold and David Moore in the summer of 2015 caused them emotional distress. David Schmid is an attorney for Liberty Counsel, which represents Davis. He said they’ll appeal and that he’s confident they’ll prevail for several reasons.
“One of which is, she was entitled to an an accommodation, which she ultimately got with the change of gubernatorial administrations. And she was entitled to First Amendment protection for her religious beliefs, even as a government official.”
Ermold said he wasn’t surprised by Bunning’s decision and that the long battle has been exhausting.
“To be honest with you, it's just, it was not a great experience. The court case itself felt like I was being crucified. It did. I felt like I was being crucified by the public, you know, and I had a hard time with it. I had panic attacks while I was there.”
Ermold said if Davis does pay up, taxes on the $50,000 in damages he and Moore would each receive, and on the free legal assistance they’ve gotten, will eat up most of their awards.
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Written by John McGary. Cross-posted from WEKU.
