On Nov. 10, 2025, the Supreme Court declined to hear a case that sought to overturn the 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges decision, which guarantees same-sex couples the federal right to marry. The Court’s refusal to hear the case will effectively preserve marriage equality nationwide.
The recent appeal came from former Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis. According to The New York Times, Davis gained national attention in 2015 after she refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Davis argued that the Obergefell v. Hodges case violated her First Amendment rights, claiming she could not be forced to act against her religious beliefs. Davis was jailed for six days in September 2015 for defying a federal judge’s order to perform her duties, and was also required to pay over $300,000 to a couple whom she denied a marriage license to.
The New York Times explains that Davis returned to Court on Nov. 10 to reverse the order against her, and also to request that the Court consider overturning the 2015 same-sex marriage ruling.
According to CNN, the Supreme Court denied Davis’s case without comment, and none of the justices publicly explained the decision. Their silence could likely indicate that there was not enough support from the Court to reopen the issue. Even with the Court’s current conservative majority, justices were reluctant to reopen a ruling that has become so deeply embedded in American society.
The Washington Post notes that while the Court’s decision provides immediate reassurance for marriage equality, it also highlights how justices avoid revisiting widely accepted rulings unless under strong disagreement. This is because the Supreme Court follows a legal principle called Stare Decisis, which promotes stability in the law and allows people to securely rely on judicial decisions.
CNN also reports that concerns surrounding the Obergefell v. Hodges case have significantly risen in recent years, especially after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, which had previously guaranteed the federal right to abortion. That decision left abortion legality up to individual states, sparking fear among many Americans that other established rights could be at high risk.
Despite these concerns, marriage equality remains firmly protected. The Supreme Court’s refusal to hear Davis’s case provides reassurance to the LGBTQ+ community, reinforcing that their right to marry will continue to be recognized throughout the United States.
