MOREHEAD, Ky., Sept. 14 (UPI) — Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis, who returned to work Monday after a stint in jail, said she’s unsure of the legal validity of the marriage licenses her clerks have been issuing without her signature.
Davis has been under fire since the Supreme Court‘s June ruling legalizing same-sex marriage for refusing to issue marriage licenses to any couple. She said she will not personally issue any marriage licenses that challenge her faith.
Earlier in the month, Davis was found in contempt of court for refusing to follow a Supreme Court order requiring her to issue marriage licenses and was put in jail.
Upon returning to the courthouse in Rowan County, she was greeted by a poster saying, “Dear Kim Davis, The fact that you can’t sell your daughter for three goats and a cow means we’ve already redefined marriage.” The poster was made by LGBTQ group, Planting Peace.
After her arrest, five out of her six deputy clerks agreed to issue marriage licenses despite lacking Davis’ authorization. Davis’ son, Nathan, was the only deputy clerk who declined to issue marriage licenses.
In a statement outside the courthouse, Davis said Monday she will not interfere with the actions of her deputy clerks but has doubts whether the licenses they issue will be valid since she is not signing them.
She said the licenses will read that they are issued pursuant to a federal court order.
Davis’ lawyer, Mat Staver, has asked that the authority to issue marriage licenses be transferred from the county clerk’s office to the state.
Under Kentucky law, the authorization for licenses rests with the state’s 120 county clerks and not with the state. Changing the legislation to suit a clerk whose beliefs are not in line with the Supreme Court’s ruling in June is a possibility, but the state’s legislature does not reconvene until January.
Gov. Steve Beshear also did not express a desire to convene ahead of schedule or as an emergency.
Kentucky state Senate President Robert Stivers told CNN a solution for the issue was in the works and that it would likely be passed in January.
