UPDATE: Sept. 14, 2015 9:08 AM EDT
MOREHEAD, Ky. (AP) — A Kentucky clerk says she is not going to interfere with her deputies issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples, but she says she is not authorizing them and questions whether they are valid.
The deputy county clerk who has said he’ll keep issuing marriage licenses despite his boss’ objections now sits behind a sign that reads “marriage license deputy.”
Brian Mason remained calm, scrolling on his computer and chewing gum, despite the scene unfolding before him Monday morning. Dozens of television cameras crowded around his counter, some reporters in the back climbed step ladders to get a better shot of him sitting at his desk, waiting for a couple to arrive to get a marriage license.
Earlier in the morning, Mason’s boss, Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis, announced that she’s not going to interfere with her deputies issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples, but she says she isn’t authorizing them and questions whether they’re valid.
A federal judge had jailed Davis for five days for refusing to grant marriage licenses.
Despite his boss’ objections to gay marriage, a deputy county clerk in eastern Kentucky says he’ll continue issuing marriage licenses.
Deputy clerk Brian Mason had previously said that if he has to, he would disobey his boss, county clerk Kim Davis, and issue licenses rather than refuse the orders of U.S. District Judge David Bunning.
Monday was Davis’ first day back to work after Judge Bunning jailed her for refusing to issue marriage licenses. Reading from a statement, Davis said she’s not going to interfere with her deputies issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples, but she says she isn’t authorizing them and questions whether they’re valid.
Mason said that he spoke with Davis only briefly.
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