Kim Davis’ Attorney Says She Will Appeal Contempt Ruling Today

Mat Staver, founder of Liberty Counsel, said Friday that jailed Kentucky clerk Kim Davis will appeal her contempt of court ruling by the end of the day and has no plans to resign as Rowan County clerk.

In a press conference held outside the Carter County Detention Center, where Davis remains in custody, Staver reiterated that Davis has no plans to resign her publicly elected post, and that she has a “clean conscience.”

When the team of attorneys met with Davis during Friday visitation, Staver said she was in good spirits, had already started Bible study “by herself,” and told them “all is well.” Staver also said he could not say how long Davis would be imprisoned, but that she was a “prisoner of her conscience.”

“We need more people – whether you agree with her or not – who are willing to stand by their conscience and convictions,” he said.

Staver said the group believes the first marriage licenses issued to gay couples on Friday are void and “not worth the paper they’re written on” because they were not issued under the authority of the county clerk, but rather by Davis’ deputies. Five of the six county deputies agreed to issue licenses on Thursday, with Davis’ son remaining the lone holdout.

Family Council will continue to push for a legal accommodation for Davis’ religious beliefs, according to Staver, who said U.S. District Court Judge David Bunning could have ordered Davis’ name and office be removed from the licensing forms rather than imprison an “innocent woman.”

He condemned Bunning’s proceedings as a “charade,” and said the judge had already decided to incarcerate Davis before testimony began.

This post has been updated.