Controversial Kentucky clerk back on the job

All sides appear to be satisfied with the way the clerk’s office is handling marriage licenses in Kentucky’s Rowan County.

Clerk Kim Davis returned to work Monday for the first time since she spent five days in jail for refusing to give licenses to same-sex couples.

Today, a deputy gave a same-sex couple one of those licenses — which don’t carry Davis’ name, and which say they’re being issued under court order.

A lawyer for Davis says that doesn’t violate her conscience and Kentucky’s governor says the licenses are valid.

Bruce Hausknecht, a judicial analyst for the Christian non-profit, Focus on the Family, told KRDO NewsChannel 13 he believes an exception should have been made for Davis to protect her religious beliefs and to allow same-sex couples to receive marriage licenses in Rowan County.

“No one in this day and age should have to go to jail, first of all, for what they believe,” Hausknecht said. “We should have had an accommodation so that same sex couples could get their licenses in Rowan County, Kentucky, and Kim Davis’ religious conscience was not violated.”

Kentucky state law requires that “every license blank shall contain the identical words and figures.” But the governor noted that the federal judge overseeing Davis’ case has not raised any objections to the licenses.