Jailed Kentucky Clerk Appeals Contempt Of Court Ruling

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Attorneys for Kim Davis filed an appeal Sunday of the contempt of court ruling that landed the defiant Rowan County, Kentucky clerk in jail for refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

Davis was taken into custody Thursday after U.S. District Judge David Bunning ordered her held in contempt of court until she agreed to comply with previous court orders to begin granting the licenses. But the conservative Christian law firm Liberty Counsel, which is representing Davis, argued that Davis was given no notice that her failure to comply with the orders would result in her incarceration.

“Mrs. Davis is entitled to proper notice and due process when she is
threatened with the loss of her freedom,” Mat Staver, the founder of Liberty Counsel, said in a press release. “There was no indication that she would be incarcerated. We will be presenting our arguments on appeal and asking for an expedited ruling.”

In a Friday press conference outside the Carter County Detention Center, where Davis is being held, Staver accused Bunning of having decided to incarcerate Davis before testimony in the contempt of court hearing even began.

Davis’ husband, Joe Davis, told reporters Friday that his wife would remain in jail rather than resign her position as chief clerk.

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