Many will be watching as Kentucky clerk returns to work

Published 9:03 am Monday, September 14, 2015

MOREHEAD, Ky. — Many were keeping their eye on a rural Kentucky county clerk’s office this morning, Kim Davis’ expected first day back at work after a judge jailed her for refusing to grant marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

The Rowan County clerk, who believes gay marriage is a sin, became a hero to many conservative Christians after she stopped issuing marriage licenses following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that effectively legalized gay marriage.

She was jailed for five days after U.S. District Court Judge David Bunning found her in contempt of court for refusing his order to issue marriage licenses.

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In Davis’ absence, her deputy clerks have issued marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

Today, Davis can either allow her office to continue issuing licenses or again disobey the judge who already sent her to jail. Davis hasn’t said what she will do when she returns to work, but deputy clerk Brian Mason said last Wednesday that if he has to, he will disobey his boss and continue issuing licenses rather than refuse the judge’s orders.