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tclittle Professional Forum Ninja from Somewhere Down in Texas Since: Apr, 2010
Professional Forum Ninja
#99851: Sep 3rd 2015 at 10:28:08 AM

The Kentucky clerk who refused marriage licenses to same-sex couples has been jailed.

edited 3rd Sep '15 10:28:25 AM by tclittle

"We're all paper, we're all scissors, we're all fightin' with our mirrors, scared we'll never find somebody to love."
Aszur A nice butterfly from Pagliacci's Since: Apr, 2014 Relationship Status: Don't hug me; I'm scared
A nice butterfly
#99852: Sep 3rd 2015 at 10:30:01 AM

Poor inmates. They are trapped in with her.

It has always been the prerogative of children and half-wits to point out that the emperor has no clothes
Ogodei Fuck you, Fascist sympathizers from The front lines Since: Jan, 2011
Fuck you, Fascist sympathizers
#99853: Sep 3rd 2015 at 10:35:20 AM

Called it. The judge probably figured she'd just get massive solidarity donations if they tried to fine her into compliance.

RavenWilder Since: Apr, 2009
#99854: Sep 3rd 2015 at 10:36:09 AM

Is jail really necessary? Couldn't she just be fired for refusing to do her job?

Greenmantle V from Greater Wessex, Britannia Since: Feb, 2010 Relationship Status: Hiding
V
#99855: Sep 3rd 2015 at 10:38:30 AM

[up] Refusing to do her job might be illegal in of itself.

Keep Rolling On
Aszur A nice butterfly from Pagliacci's Since: Apr, 2014 Relationship Status: Don't hug me; I'm scared
A nice butterfly
#99856: Sep 3rd 2015 at 10:44:38 AM

She is opposing federal law and a recent ruling of the Supreme Court...

Is that not sanctioned with jailtime?

It has always been the prerogative of children and half-wits to point out that the emperor has no clothes
Memers Since: Aug, 2013
#99857: Sep 3rd 2015 at 10:46:20 AM

[up][up][up] Well it's the legal system and an order from your boss is technically contempt of court.

Working in the Judiciary is way different from just a normal job.

edited 3rd Sep '15 10:46:37 AM by Memers

NativeJovian Jupiterian Local from Orlando, FL Since: Mar, 2014 Relationship Status: Maxing my social links
Jupiterian Local
#99858: Sep 3rd 2015 at 10:47:36 AM

A US judge has ordered a Kentucky official jailed for contempt of court after she has repeatedly refused to issue marriage licences to gay couples.
So, it turns out that defying a Supreme Court ruling is illegal. Who knew?

Really from Jupiter, but not an alien.
probablyinsane Since: Oct, 2011 Relationship Status: I LOVE THIS DOCTOR!
#99859: Sep 3rd 2015 at 10:54:42 AM

Should be jail time + fine, so that prison costs are covered.

Seriously, anyone who was divorced several times shouldn't think themselves experts on the sanctity of marriage.

Plants are aliens, and fungi are nanomachines.
RavenWilder Since: Apr, 2009
#99860: Sep 3rd 2015 at 11:01:42 AM

Maybe I'm misunderstanding how county clerks work, but if that one clerk refused to give gay couples a marriage license, couldn't they just call in another clerk from one desk over to issue it instead? So long as that happens, the couple still gets their marriage license and their rights aren't infringed upon. The only issue at that point is one county clerk creating some extra hassle for her co-workers.

shimaspawn from Here and Now Since: May, 2010 Relationship Status: In your bunk
#99861: Sep 3rd 2015 at 11:05:49 AM

County Clerk is an elected position and there is only one for the whole county. She's not just a DMV employee or something. She's the person elected to be in charge of paperwork for the county.

edited 3rd Sep '15 11:06:34 AM by shimaspawn

Reality is that, which when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away. -Philip K. Dick
Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
#99862: Sep 3rd 2015 at 11:06:01 AM

County Clerk is an elected position in most places. They probably only have one.

Ogodei Fuck you, Fascist sympathizers from The front lines Since: Jan, 2011
Fuck you, Fascist sympathizers
#99863: Sep 3rd 2015 at 11:11:42 AM

She was the Clerk, and thus had authority over the deputies in her office. The deputies have also been told by the judge to comply now that she's in jail, so Rowan County could start issuing licenses again, it depends on how solidly the clerks were behind her.

PotatoesRock Since: Oct, 2012
#99864: Sep 3rd 2015 at 11:22:22 AM

Is jail really necessary? Couldn't she just be fired for refusing to do her job?
As others have mentioned, she can't be fired, she'd have to be impeached by the local/state government. That and she's failed to comply with court orders, so yes, at this point, jail is necessary since she's failed to carry out the orders of the court.

tclittle Professional Forum Ninja from Somewhere Down in Texas Since: Apr, 2010
Professional Forum Ninja
#99865: Sep 3rd 2015 at 11:28:10 AM

Trump signs pledge to back the GOP nominee.

I could easily see Trump backpedaling if he loses, but I think he's doing this cause he thinks he's going to win the nomination.

"We're all paper, we're all scissors, we're all fightin' with our mirrors, scared we'll never find somebody to love."
RavenWilder Since: Apr, 2009
#99866: Sep 3rd 2015 at 11:28:39 AM

Okay, I had no idea county clerk was an elected position, or that it was a position with any actual authority. I mean, when I hear "clerk", I picture someone on the absolute lowest rung of the bureaucratic hierarchy.

Memers Since: Aug, 2013
#99867: Sep 3rd 2015 at 11:35:29 AM

A the clerk serves as the official keeper of the municipal records, responsible for issuing licenses, overseeing local elections, maintain financial records, registrar of vital statistics, and conduct of business in the county. And the important part here they are the compliance officer for federal, state, and local statutes.

This issue is on multiple fronts wrong and impeachment should be a given.

shimaspawn from Here and Now Since: May, 2010 Relationship Status: In your bunk
#99868: Sep 3rd 2015 at 11:35:53 AM

No, she's the person who has some of the most power in the county. She's more powerful in her sphere than anyone who isn't operating at the state level.

Reality is that, which when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away. -Philip K. Dick
BAFFU Since: Dec, 2012
Memers Since: Aug, 2013
#99870: Sep 3rd 2015 at 11:48:07 AM

Nah judges have their stuff checked and kicked upstairs, a clerk does not quite have that outside of extreme cases like this one.

BAFFU Since: Dec, 2012
#99871: Sep 3rd 2015 at 11:49:48 AM

judges tend to agree with one another.

You only hear about successful appeals because... well they are newsworthy.

RavenWilder Since: Apr, 2009
#99872: Sep 3rd 2015 at 11:50:16 AM

Okay, so what do you call the people you see standing behind a counter when you enter a government building? The people you actually hand your paperwork over to?

Aszur A nice butterfly from Pagliacci's Since: Apr, 2014 Relationship Status: Don't hug me; I'm scared
A nice butterfly
#99873: Sep 3rd 2015 at 11:57:37 AM

Minions

[down] You're no fun

edited 3rd Sep '15 11:59:45 AM by Aszur

It has always been the prerogative of children and half-wits to point out that the emperor has no clothes
shimaspawn from Here and Now Since: May, 2010 Relationship Status: In your bunk
#99874: Sep 3rd 2015 at 11:59:18 AM

Employees or workers.

Reality is that, which when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away. -Philip K. Dick
Greenmantle V from Greater Wessex, Britannia Since: Feb, 2010 Relationship Status: Hiding
V
#99875: Sep 3rd 2015 at 12:10:11 PM

[up][up] Millions of Minions? surprised

Keep Rolling On

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