kim davis
Content
Case: 15-5880
Document: 62-1
Filed: 11/05/2015
Page: 1
(1 of 5)
Nos. 15-5880/5961/5978
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE SIXTH CIRCUIT
FILED
APRIL MILLER, et al.,
Plaintiffs-Appellees,
v.
KIM DAVIS, in her individual and official capacity as
Rowan County Clerk,
Defendant-Appellant,
v.
STEVEN L. BESHEAR, in his official capacity as
Governor of Ky.; WAYNE ONKST, in his official
capacity as State Librarian and Commissioner, Kentucky
Department of Libraries and Archives,
Third Party Defendants-Appellees.
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Nov 05, 2015
DEBORAH S. HUNT, Clerk
ORDER
Before: KEITH, ROGERS, and DONALD, Circuit Judges.
Kim Davis, the Rowan County Clerk, appeals a preliminary injunction entered on August 12,
2015, enjoining her, in her official capacity, “from applying her ‘no marriage licenses’ policy to future
marriage license requests submitted by the Plaintiffs.” She also appeals the September 3, 2015 order
modifying the preliminary injunction to enjoin her from applying her no-marriage-license policy to future
marriage license requests submitted by individuals who are eligible to marry in Kentucky. On August 28,
2015, we denied Davis’s motion for a stay of the August 12 preliminary injunction. She now seeks a stay
pending appeal of the September 3 order. The plaintiffs and the third-party defendants oppose a stay. On
September 23, 2015, the district court denied a stay of the September 3 order.
Case: 15-5880
Document: 62-1
Filed: 11/05/2015
Page: 2
Nos. 15-5880/5961/5978
-2Davis “bears the burden of showing that the circumstances justify” the exercise of discretion to
grant a stay pending appeal. Nken v. Holder, 556 U.S. 418, 433–34 (2009). Four factors guide our
consideration of the renewed motion for a stay: (1) whether Davis has a strong likelihood of success on
the merits; (2) whether she will suffer irreparable harm in the absence of a stay; (3) whether the requested
injunctive relief will substantially injure other interested parties; and (4) where the public interest lies. Id.
at 434; see also Serv. Emps. Int’l Union Local 1 v. Husted, 698 F.3d 341, 343 (6th Cir. 2012). “The first
two factors of the traditional standard are the most critical.” Nken, 556 U.S. at 434. “These factors are
not prerequisites that must be met, but are interrelated considerations that must be balanced together.”
Mich. Coal. of Radioactive Material Users, Inc. v. Griepentrog, 945 F.2d 150, 153 (6th Cir. 1991).
Davis argues that because the August 12 preliminary injunction was on appeal to this court, the
district court lacked jurisdiction to issue the September 3 order modifying the terms of the injunctive
relief granted. As a general rule, the filing of a notice of appeal divests the district court of jurisdiction to
act, except in the aid of the appeal. But Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 62(c) provides that while an
appeal from a ruling on injunctive relief is pending, “the court may suspend, modify, restore, or grant an
injunction[.]”
The district court’s order denying a stay shows that plaintiffs’ likelihood of success on the merits
of this appeal is not sufficiently strong to outweigh the remaining equitable factors at this stage of the
appeal.
Davis’s renewed motion for a stay of the September 3 order pending appeal is DENIED.
ENTERED BY ORDER OF THE COURT
Deborah S. Hunt, Clerk
(2 of 5)
Case: 15-5880
Document: 62-2
Filed: 11/05/2015
Page: 1
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE SIXTH CIRCUIT
Deborah S. Hunt
Clerk
100 EAST FIFTH STREET, ROOM 540
POTTER STEWART U.S. COURTHOUSE
CINCINNATI, OHIO 45202-3988
Filed: November 05, 2015
Mr. Daniel J. Canon
Law Offices
462 S. Fourth Street
Suite 1730
Louisville, KY 40202
Mr. Jonathan D. Christman
Liberty Counsel
P.O. Box 540774
Orlando, FL 32854
Mr. Anthony Charles Donahue
Donahue Law Group
P.O. Box 659
Somerset, KY 42502-0659
Mr. Leonard Joe Dunman
Clay, Daniel, Walton & Adams
462 S. Fourth Street
Suite 101
Louisville, KY 40202
Mr. James D. Esseks
ACLU
125 Broad Street
18th Floor
New York, NY 10004
Mr. Roger K. Gannam
Liberty Counsel
P.O. Box 540774
Orlando, FL 32854
Tel. (513) 564-7000
www.ca6.uscourts.gov
(3 of 5)
Case: 15-5880
Document: 62-2
Mr. Lawrence John Joseph
Law Office
1250 Connecticut Avenue, N.W
Suite 200
Washington, DC 20036
Ms. Laura E. Landenwich
Clay, Daniel, Walton & Adams
462 S. Fourth Street
Suite 101
Louisville, KY 40202
Mr. William M. Lear Jr.
Stoll Keenon Ogden
300 W. Vine Street
Suite 2100
Lexington, KY 40507
Mr. Daniel Mach
American Civil Liberties Union
Program on Freedom of Religion & Belief
915 15th Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20005
Mr. Horatio Gabriel Mihet
Liberty Counsel
1053 Maitland Center Commons
Second Floor
Maitland, FL 32751
Mr. William E. Sharp
American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky
General Counsel
315 Guthrie Street
Suite 300
Louisville, KY 40202
Mr. Mathew D. Staver
Liberty Counsel
P.O. Box 540774
Orlando, FL 32854
Ms. Ria Tabacco Mar
ACLU
125 Broad Street
18th Floor
Filed: 11/05/2015
Page: 2
(4 of 5)
Case: 15-5880
Document: 62-2
Filed: 11/05/2015
Page: 3
New York, NY 10004
Mr. Palmer G. Vance II
Stoll Keenon Ogden
300 W. Vine Street
Suite 2100
Lexington, KY 40507
Ms. Heather L. Weaver
American Civil Liberties Union
Program on Freedom of Religion & Belief
915 15th Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20005
Re: Case No. 15-5880/15-5961/15-5978, April Miller, et al v. Kim Davis
Originating Case No. : 0:15-cv-00044
Dear Counsel,
The Court issued the enclosed Order today in this case.
Sincerely yours,
s/Michelle M. Davis
Case Manager
Direct Dial No. 513-564-7025
cc: Mr. Robert R. Carr
Enclosure
(5 of 5)
Document: 62-1
Filed: 11/05/2015
Page: 1
(1 of 5)
Nos. 15-5880/5961/5978
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE SIXTH CIRCUIT
FILED
APRIL MILLER, et al.,
Plaintiffs-Appellees,
v.
KIM DAVIS, in her individual and official capacity as
Rowan County Clerk,
Defendant-Appellant,
v.
STEVEN L. BESHEAR, in his official capacity as
Governor of Ky.; WAYNE ONKST, in his official
capacity as State Librarian and Commissioner, Kentucky
Department of Libraries and Archives,
Third Party Defendants-Appellees.
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
Nov 05, 2015
DEBORAH S. HUNT, Clerk
ORDER
Before: KEITH, ROGERS, and DONALD, Circuit Judges.
Kim Davis, the Rowan County Clerk, appeals a preliminary injunction entered on August 12,
2015, enjoining her, in her official capacity, “from applying her ‘no marriage licenses’ policy to future
marriage license requests submitted by the Plaintiffs.” She also appeals the September 3, 2015 order
modifying the preliminary injunction to enjoin her from applying her no-marriage-license policy to future
marriage license requests submitted by individuals who are eligible to marry in Kentucky. On August 28,
2015, we denied Davis’s motion for a stay of the August 12 preliminary injunction. She now seeks a stay
pending appeal of the September 3 order. The plaintiffs and the third-party defendants oppose a stay. On
September 23, 2015, the district court denied a stay of the September 3 order.
Case: 15-5880
Document: 62-1
Filed: 11/05/2015
Page: 2
Nos. 15-5880/5961/5978
-2Davis “bears the burden of showing that the circumstances justify” the exercise of discretion to
grant a stay pending appeal. Nken v. Holder, 556 U.S. 418, 433–34 (2009). Four factors guide our
consideration of the renewed motion for a stay: (1) whether Davis has a strong likelihood of success on
the merits; (2) whether she will suffer irreparable harm in the absence of a stay; (3) whether the requested
injunctive relief will substantially injure other interested parties; and (4) where the public interest lies. Id.
at 434; see also Serv. Emps. Int’l Union Local 1 v. Husted, 698 F.3d 341, 343 (6th Cir. 2012). “The first
two factors of the traditional standard are the most critical.” Nken, 556 U.S. at 434. “These factors are
not prerequisites that must be met, but are interrelated considerations that must be balanced together.”
Mich. Coal. of Radioactive Material Users, Inc. v. Griepentrog, 945 F.2d 150, 153 (6th Cir. 1991).
Davis argues that because the August 12 preliminary injunction was on appeal to this court, the
district court lacked jurisdiction to issue the September 3 order modifying the terms of the injunctive
relief granted. As a general rule, the filing of a notice of appeal divests the district court of jurisdiction to
act, except in the aid of the appeal. But Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 62(c) provides that while an
appeal from a ruling on injunctive relief is pending, “the court may suspend, modify, restore, or grant an
injunction[.]”
The district court’s order denying a stay shows that plaintiffs’ likelihood of success on the merits
of this appeal is not sufficiently strong to outweigh the remaining equitable factors at this stage of the
appeal.
Davis’s renewed motion for a stay of the September 3 order pending appeal is DENIED.
ENTERED BY ORDER OF THE COURT
Deborah S. Hunt, Clerk
(2 of 5)
Case: 15-5880
Document: 62-2
Filed: 11/05/2015
Page: 1
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE SIXTH CIRCUIT
Deborah S. Hunt
Clerk
100 EAST FIFTH STREET, ROOM 540
POTTER STEWART U.S. COURTHOUSE
CINCINNATI, OHIO 45202-3988
Filed: November 05, 2015
Mr. Daniel J. Canon
Law Offices
462 S. Fourth Street
Suite 1730
Louisville, KY 40202
Mr. Jonathan D. Christman
Liberty Counsel
P.O. Box 540774
Orlando, FL 32854
Mr. Anthony Charles Donahue
Donahue Law Group
P.O. Box 659
Somerset, KY 42502-0659
Mr. Leonard Joe Dunman
Clay, Daniel, Walton & Adams
462 S. Fourth Street
Suite 101
Louisville, KY 40202
Mr. James D. Esseks
ACLU
125 Broad Street
18th Floor
New York, NY 10004
Mr. Roger K. Gannam
Liberty Counsel
P.O. Box 540774
Orlando, FL 32854
Tel. (513) 564-7000
www.ca6.uscourts.gov
(3 of 5)
Case: 15-5880
Document: 62-2
Mr. Lawrence John Joseph
Law Office
1250 Connecticut Avenue, N.W
Suite 200
Washington, DC 20036
Ms. Laura E. Landenwich
Clay, Daniel, Walton & Adams
462 S. Fourth Street
Suite 101
Louisville, KY 40202
Mr. William M. Lear Jr.
Stoll Keenon Ogden
300 W. Vine Street
Suite 2100
Lexington, KY 40507
Mr. Daniel Mach
American Civil Liberties Union
Program on Freedom of Religion & Belief
915 15th Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20005
Mr. Horatio Gabriel Mihet
Liberty Counsel
1053 Maitland Center Commons
Second Floor
Maitland, FL 32751
Mr. William E. Sharp
American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky
General Counsel
315 Guthrie Street
Suite 300
Louisville, KY 40202
Mr. Mathew D. Staver
Liberty Counsel
P.O. Box 540774
Orlando, FL 32854
Ms. Ria Tabacco Mar
ACLU
125 Broad Street
18th Floor
Filed: 11/05/2015
Page: 2
(4 of 5)
Case: 15-5880
Document: 62-2
Filed: 11/05/2015
Page: 3
New York, NY 10004
Mr. Palmer G. Vance II
Stoll Keenon Ogden
300 W. Vine Street
Suite 2100
Lexington, KY 40507
Ms. Heather L. Weaver
American Civil Liberties Union
Program on Freedom of Religion & Belief
915 15th Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20005
Re: Case No. 15-5880/15-5961/15-5978, April Miller, et al v. Kim Davis
Originating Case No. : 0:15-cv-00044
Dear Counsel,
The Court issued the enclosed Order today in this case.
Sincerely yours,
s/Michelle M. Davis
Case Manager
Direct Dial No. 513-564-7025
cc: Mr. Robert R. Carr
Enclosure
(5 of 5)
