Will Kim Davis' Deputies Face Jail Time As Well?

Rowan County, Kentucky clerk Kim Davis was ordered to jail on Thursday by a federal judge for refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Despite the Supreme Court's decision to legalize same-sex marriage nationwide in June, Davis cited her Apostolic Christian beliefs when refusing to issue the marriage licenses. Judge David Bunning informed Davis' deputy clerks that they would also face jail time or a fine if they decided to follow Davis' lead and refuse to comply with federal law. The six deputy clerks were further informed that they had to decide whether or not they would comply by 1:45 p.m. after having time to speak with county defenders on Thursday. One of the clerks who serves under Kim Davis is her son, Nathan Davis.

As of 4 p.m. EST on Thursday, five of the six deputy clerks told Bunning that they would comply with federal law and issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. The lone holdout is Nathan Davis. WTRF News in Kentucky reports that marriage licenses will be available again as of 8 a.m. on Friday, after several months of Davis refusing to issue them. According to The Courier Journal, the deputy clerks cited various reasons for falling in step with Davis' decision. Some of them also had objections based on religion, and others felt that it would not have been appropriate for them to issue licenses while Davis was not.

If Nathan Davis also refuses to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, he could face the same penalty as his mother: indefinite time in jail until he agrees to comply. It is also possible that he could be fined instead. The Courier Journal further reported that if all the clerks resumed issuing marriage licenses, it could purge Kim Davis' contempt charge with the court. There have not yet been any updates regarding Nathan Davis' decision. For now, Kim Davis remains in jail, and marriage licenses will be issued again as of Friday morning.