WASHINGTON, Sept. 3, 2015 (UPI/Gephardt Daily Staff) — A judge found a Kentucky county clerk in contempt of court Thursday for her refusal to issue marriage licenses since the Supreme Court decision to allow gays to marry.
U.S. District Judge David Bunning placed Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis in the custody of U.S. marshals who escorted her to jail. She will remain in custody until she agrees to begin issuing marriage licenses to all couples, gay or straight.
Before the hearing, hundreds demonstrated outside the courthouse both in support of Davis and against her.
Davis continues to say she is acting under God’s authority in her decision to refuse to issue marriage licenses to anyone. Tuesday, she turned away at least four couples.
“To issue a marriage license which conflicts with God’s definition of marriage, with my name affixed to the certificate, would violate my conscience. It is not a light issue for me. It is a heaven or hell decision,” she said in a written statement. “For me it is a decision of obedience. I have no animosity toward anyone and harbor no ill will. To me this has never been a gay or lesbian issue. It is about marriage and God’s word.”
Several judges have ordered her to resume her duties as county clerk, including theU.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday, but she has repeatedly denied, citing her Apostolic Christian views.
The ACLU said Davis has “no legal basis to avoid performing her duties as government clerk.”
“The law is clear and the courts have spoken,” Steven R. Shapiro, legal director of the ACLU said in a written statement. “The duty of public officials is to enforce the law, not place themselves above it.”
Kentucky Republican gubernatorial candidate Matt Bevin said he fully supports Davis’ right to deny marriage licenses to gay couples, drawing battle lines between himself and Democratic candidate Conway.
“I absolutely support her willingness to stand on her First Amendment rights,” Bevin said. “Without any question I support her.”
