Kim Davis' Lawyer Says Ky. Clerk Will Stay in Jail, Refuses to Violate Conscience

As same-sex couples began to receive marriage licenses in Rowan County on Friday, county clerk Kim Davis has reportedly said that she will remain in jail until the issue can be resolved while she is still able to maintain her religious freedom.

Davis' attorney, Mathew D. Staver, founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel, said in a statement that Davis will continue to refuse to resign her government job, despite being jailed and held in contempt for refusing to issue the same-sex marriage licenses.

"Here's two things I know: She's not going to resign and she's not going to violate her conscience," Staver said, according to the New York Times. "So however long that lasts, in terms of the consequences, she is prepared to accept them."

Davis was held in contempt and jailed on Thursday after she refused to issue same-sex marriage licenses for weeks, citing her Christian beliefs that disagree with gay marriage. Davis continued to refuse to issue the licenses even after being ordered by the Supreme Court to do so.

Howard Wasserman, law professor and Florida International University College of Law, told ABC News in a statement that "With civil contempt, you hold the jailhouse key," adding that "As soon as you comply, you are let out of jail."

"I wouldn't say she wants to be there ... [but] for her cause, this is actually an advantageous thing," Wasserman continued. "Because she has been a martyr to this cause. She has presidential candidates talking about [her as a] victim in a war against Christianity [...] and how she's a victim of being the first person ever put in jail for adhering to their conscience, which is not true."