Kentucky County Clerk, Kim Davis, has returned to work and promises not to touch any gay marriage licenses. On the flip-side, she and her attorneys now question the validity of the government documents void of her approval.
On Monday, the Apostolic Christian said she faced a difficult decision throughout the entire ordeal - obeying God or following the judge's order that "
According to the Associated Press, Davis read from a hand-written statement outside the courthouse where she works. "I'm here before you this morning with a seemingly impossible choice that I do not wish upon any of my fellow Americans: my conscience or my freedom," she said.
Kim Davis became a household name after she was found denying gay marriage licenses for months in Kentucky after the U.S. Supreme Court legalized gay marriage in June. Many conservative Christians surrounded the courthouse as well last week in support of Kim as she was jailed after being found in contempt of defying Supreme Court law.
"I don't want to have this conflict. I don't want to be in the spotlight. And I certainly don't want to be a whipping post," Davis said. "I am no hero. I'm just a person that's been transformed by the grace of God, who wants to work, be with my family. I just want to serve my neighbors quietly without violating my conscience."
Deputy Clerk, Brian Mason, now handles the approval and distribution of marriage licenses. In his boss's absence, Mason and the other clerks have already handed out seven marriage licenses, whcihc have been altered to exclude Kim Davis's name.
The governor, the attorney general and the county attorney have said the licenses are valid although Davis and her attorneys claim otherwise.
On the topic of her clerks, Davis said, "I love my deputy clerks and I hate that they have been caught in the middle of any of this."
"If any of them feel that they must issue an authorized license to avoid being thrown in jail, I understand their tough choice and I will take no action against them," she continued.
AP pointed out, Davis's attorney filed an appeal seeking yet another delay in issuing licenses. They argued that all the same-sex couples who sued Davis for a license received one from her deputies while she was in jail, therefore her office should not be required to issue the licenses to any more couples once she returns to work.
U.S. District Judge David Bunning wrote that his mandate required her office to issue licenses to all couples, not only those who filed suit. However Davis and her team allege that order was issued improperly, hence they have asked again for a delay.
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