The appeal came from Kim Davis, a former county clerk in Kentucky who refused to issue marriage licences to same‑sex couples after the original verdict. She argued that the Court should overturn Obergefell, but her request was denied, and the justices offered no further comment.

Davis was previously ordered by lower courts to pay over US$360,000 in damages and legal costs after refusing to issue the licences. Her legal team leaned heavily on conservative criticism of Obergefell particularly statements from Justice Clarence Thomas, who remains one of the few sitting justices openly questioning the ruling.

Observers say the Supreme Court’s refusal to hear the case is a major win for LGBTQ+ rights. Many see it as a signal that, despite its conservative majority, the Court is not ready to roll back the constitutional protections for same-sex marriage at least for now.

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