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Judge Jails Kentucky Clerk for Not Issuing Same-Sex Marriage Licenses

A federal judge on September 3 jailed a Kentucky county clerk who has refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis is to remain in jail until she complies with a judge’s order to issue the licenses. Her deputies were told they had to decide by the afternoon if they would comply or they too would be jailed.

U.S. District Judge David Bunning ordered Davis on August 12 to issue licenses. She continued to turn away same-sex couples, saying she had until September 1 to comply. Davis appealed the decision to the US Supreme Court, who rejected her request on August 31. On September 1, she again refused several same-sex couples marriage licenses, which brought Davis before Bunning on September 3.

The couples had requested Davis not be jailed but rather fined for not issuing the marriage licenses, but Bunning said that would not work because someone could raise the money to pay for Davis’ fine.

Davis has refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples since the US Supreme Court legalized it in June, citing her religious beliefs.

This video shows the two sides of protesters outside the courthouse. Credit: Instagram/Dan Mahoney