The Latest: Employee says office will still issue licenses in defiant clerk's absence

The latest on a Kentucky county clerk who was released from jail Tuesday after she continued to defy court orders and refused to issue marriage licenses because of her religious beliefs on homosexuality (all times local):

8:25 a.m.

An employee in the office of the Kentucky clerk who was released from jail after a five-day stint for contempt says workers there will issue marriage licenses Wednesday while their boss is still out of the office.

Lawyers for Rowan County clerk Kim Davis say she will return to work Friday or Monday. Davis has become a symbol of religious freedom for many as she defied court orders to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, citing her beliefs about homosexuality. She was released from jail Tuesday. A judge warned her not to interfere with licensing, but her lawyers wouldn't say what she'll do.

In the meantime, deputy clerk Brian Mason says the office will issues licenses Wednesday in Davis' absence if anyone seeks them.

Mason says that while Davis was jailed, the office issued 10 licenses: eight Friday, two Tuesday. Seven went to same-sex couples.

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8 a.m.

Lawyers for the Kentucky clerk who was released from jail Tuesday after her continued refusal to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples say will return to work Friday or Monday.

Charla Bansley, spokeswoman for the Christian law firm Liberty Counsel, said in an emailed statement late Tuesday that Rowan County clerk Kim Davis will take a couple of days off to spend with her family before she returns to work.

Davis' office opened at 8 a.m. Wednesday as scheduled. Davis had been jailed since Thursday. Five of her six deputies issued marriage licenses in her absence. In releasing Davis on Tuesday, a federal judge — the same who put her behind bars — warned her not to interfere with the licensing. But attorney Mat Staver, in comments outside the jail, refused to say whether she would obey U.S. District Judge David Bunning's order. Instead, Staver says Davis won't violate her conscience.

Authorities closed the road in front of the courthouse, where Davis' office is located, early Wednesday. Three protesters stood in front with signs.

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4:25 a.m.

Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis will return to work in Kentucky now that she's out of jail for refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

But the apostolic Christian refused to say Tuesday how she would reconcile her conscience with a federal judge's order not to interfere with her deputy clerks issuing same-sex marriage licenses.

U.S. District Judge David Bunning released Davis on Tuesday. Her attorney said she will not violate her conscience.

An attorney for the gay couples that sued Davis said they will ask the judge to punish Davis if she continues to defy his order.