Kim Davis
Five of Kim Davis's deputy clerks apparently do not want to join her in the pokey, where she is
currently residing in contempt of court for refusing to do her job and issue marriage licenses. So the good people—all the good people—of Rowan County, Kentucky,
can get marriage licenses if they want them.
Five of Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis' deputy clerks have said they are willing to issue marriage licenses. Judge David Bunning said that would purge the contempt charge against Davis.
The five told the judge they are willing to issue licenses to comply with the court order and avoid jail or fines.
Nathan Davis, Kim's son and who works in the office, was the only deputy to refuse the judge. The others still cited concerns—a mix of religious objections and questions about their legal authority to sign off on forms without say so from Davis.
Attorneys apparently are also questioning whether the licenses will be legal if Davis isn't there to approve and that "couples would have to judge that risk on their own." He also said that he would lift the contempt charges against her if the deputies started issuing licenses, but that he didn't want to release her and risk her telling her clerks to stop issuing licenses, landing them all back in court again. He will bring Davis back to court Thursday afternoon to see if she'll now comply. The judge probably shouldn't hold his breath.
1:39 PM PT: And that's that.
Kim Davis stayed in custody and did not return to the courtroom. Her attorney told the judge that she does not authorize any employee to issue licenses in her absence.
She stays in the pokey, her staff remains confused, but licenses will be issued starting tomorrow, per the judge's order.