Since Davis's office is issuing marriage licenses to all couples, the intent of a judge's order has been satisfied.
September 08 2015 1:26 PM EST
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July 30 2018 11:20 PM EST
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A federal judge has freed Rowan County, Ky., Clerk Kim Davis from jail.
She stood mostly silent before TV cameras and microphones after stepping from the jail building, as her lawyer addressed the media. "Kim Davis cannot, will not violate her conscience," attorney Mat Staver said. Asked if that meant she would refuse to issue licenses, he promised that people would "find out in the near future."
He added: "She loves God, she loves people, she loves her work, and she will not betray any of those three."
Although Davis barely spoke at this gathering just outside the entrance to the jail, she did make a speech at a rally that was televised live. Click here to read about the rally for Kim Davis. Before that rally, when asked by a reporter whether spending five days in custody was "worth it," Davis smiled, then nodded, as if to signal her answer was "yes."
Davis had been jailed for six days on a charge of contempt of court for defying an order to issue marriage licenses to all eligible couples, including same-sex couples; she says serving the latter would violate her religious beliefs.
Judge David Bunning said that because deputy clerks in Davis's office are issuing the licenses, the order has been satisfied. Davis's attorney says she is back to square one because the license form still bears her name and title.
Judge Bunning issued several conditions, ordering her to "not interfere in any way, directly or indirectly, with the efforts of her deputy clerks to issue marriage licenses to all legally eligible couples." He he said that any such action would be regarded as "a violation" of his released order.
But even while behind bars, where she was held in contempt of court, Davis had refused to comply with the orders to issue licenses and her lawyers publicly questioned whether licenses issued since her incarceration are valid.
A crowd of at least 500 people gathered outside the court to see Davis, with Christian rock music blaring from loudspeakers, Louisville's Courier-Journal reported.
According to The New York Times, demonstrators lined up along the roadway, where a sign leaning against a truck proclaimed, "Judges Don't Make Laws And Are Not Above the Law."
Republican presidential candidates Ted Cruz and Mike Huckabee traveled to the jail Tuesday to visit Davis behind bars, where reportedly she spent her time reading the Bible.
Sen. Cruz and Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor, were joined at the afternoon rally by Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council and attorney Staver.
Dawn Ennis contributed to this report.
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