Four deputy clerks: No eligible couples denied marriage license in Rowan County

Frankfort, Ky. (AP) — Four of the six people who work for Rowan County, Kentucky, Clerk Kim Davis told a federal judge that no eligible couples have been denied marriage licenses.

Davis spent five days in jail after she cited "God's authority" in refusing to obey a federal judge's ruling ordering her to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Davis' deputy clerks issued the licenses while she was locked up. U.S. District Judge David Bunning then released Davis and ordered the deputy clerks to report back to him every two weeks.

Deputy Clerk Brian Mason is the lone deputy clerk who said he is not opposed to same-sex marriage. He has issued all of the marriage licenses in Rowan County so far since Davis was jailed.

On Friday, Mason's attorney told Bunning he believed Davis had interfered with the court's order by altering the marriage licenses to remove Davis' name and require the license to be notarized.

Four other deputy clerks filed their reports on Monday. Deputy Clerk Kristy Plank's attorney noted the licenses had been altered but did not say whether he thought that to be in violation of the judge's order. An attorney for Deputy Clerk Melissa Thompson said she "has not personally witnessed any difficulties in the issuing of marriage licenses."

An attorney for Chief Deputy Clerk Roberta Early told Bunning "All other deputy clerks are ready to issue marriage licenses" if Mason is absent. Nathan Davis is the only deputy clerk who has not filed a status report with the judge. Davis is Kim Davis' son and has said he would not issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

Plank noted the only person denied a license was a man who said he wanted to marry Jesus. She said the man was denied because "both parties were not present."

Plank said the man replied: "Jesus is always present."

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The Gayly – September 21, 2015 @ 5pm.