Kentucky clerk’s civil rights case is getting a new judge

KENTUCKY (AP) The Kentucky Supreme Court says a judge who previously rejected an appeal by a county clerk over the state’s new gay marriage ban is now considering a new one.

The court’s decision on Monday says the clerk should have the option of a new trial in the civil case brought by two gay couples challenging the ban.

The justices also ruled that county clerks in other states can continue to refuse to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

The decision is expected to be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The U.N. Human Rights Council has called on Kentucky to recognize same-gender marriages performed in other countries.

The two gay plaintiffs say they can’t get a license from Kentucky because they are gay and the clerk is denying them one because she thinks they are too religious.

A federal judge in Kentucky ruled last year that the ban on same-denominational marriage was unconstitutional.