KY Clerk Stands Ground Despite High Court Ruling

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled against Kim Davis, the Kentucky clerk who stopped issuing marriage licenses because of her Christian convictions about gay marriage.

The high court refused to stay a lower court order. That means the Rowan County clerk must now decide whether to resume issuing marriage licenses or continue to defy a federal judge's order.

So far, she is choosing to defy the court order.

Davis emerged from her office Tuesday morning after couples were denied marriage licenses. David Moore and David Ermold were among them. They have been rejected four times.

The Associated Press reports Davis asked Moore and Ermold to leave her office Tuesday and they replied, "We're not leaving until we have a license."

Davis responded, "Then you're going to have a long day."

A deputy clerk also told lesbian couple April Miller and Karen Roberts no licenses would be issued.

Davis stopped issuing all marriage licenses after the Supreme Court legalized gay marriage nationwide in June. She says she's doing so "under God's authority."

Kentucky's governor and a federal judge ordered Davis to issue the licenses. An appeals court upheld that decision. On Monday, the Supreme Court declined to intervene, leaving Davis no legal grounds to refuse.

If Davis refuses to resume issuing the licenses, she could face fines or jail time. Her attorney has said she is aware of the consequences.