Kim Davis, the Kentucky county clerk who has refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, is now in jail under charges of contempt of court.

In a statement, Davis said, "To me, this has never been a gay or lesbian issue. It is about marriage and God's word. It is a matter of religious liberty, which is protected under the First Amendment." However, US District Judge David Bunning stated that religious liberty is not usable in court in this case. "Her good faith belief is simply not a viable defense," Bunning said.

Bunning then questioned six of Davis's deputies, five of whom said that, despite their religious beliefs, they would issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. The sixth, Davis's son Nathan, gave no comment. Meanwhile, Davis gave no commitment that she would change her stance and begin to issue the licenses, and therefore remains in jail under contempt of court charges.

“The court cannot condone the willful disobedience of its lawfully issued order,” Judge Bunning said. “If you give people the opportunity to choose which orders they follow, that’s what potentially causes problems.”