Supreme Court Declines to Hear Challenge to Same-Sex Marriage Ruling
The Supreme Court today declined to hear a case that sought to overturn its 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges decision, which legalized same-sex marriage nationwide.
The case originated with Kim Davis, a former county clerk in Rowan County, Kentucky, who refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples following the 2015 ruling. Davis argued that doing so violated her religious beliefs. She subsequently sued, seeking to overturn the landmark decision, but lower courts dismissed her claims. The Supreme Court’s decision not to take up the case, announced on November 10, 2025, leaves the Obergefell ruling intact.
This marks the latest attempt to challenge the legality of same-sex marriage since the initial ruling, and its rejection reinforces the constitutional right to marriage equality established nearly a decade ago. Davis’s legal battle became a focal point in the debate over religious freedom and LGBTQ+ rights. While Davis is no longer in office, the case continued to move through the courts as a challenge to the precedent set by Obergefell.
The Court did not issue any statement with its decision to deny certiorari. Legal experts suggest the Court’s action indicates a continued unwillingness to revisit established rights for the LGBTQ+ community; you can learn more about the history of marriage equality here. This decision provides continued legal certainty for same-sex couples and families across the United States, as detailed in our previous coverage of LGBTQ+ rights.
Officials involved in the case have not yet issued further comment, and the legal path for future challenges to the Obergefell decision remains unclear.
