Timeline of a Kentucky clerk's gay-marriage defiance

Soon after the Supreme Court ruled to allow gays to marry, Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis decided to stop offering any marriage licenses through her office.

• June 26. Supreme Court rules 5-4 that states must recognize and allow same-sex marriage. Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear later that Friday directs county clerks to comply.

• June 29. Davis declines to issue marriage licenses when her office opens Monday, saying the new law of the land conflicts with her religious beliefs.

• July 2. American Civil Liberties Union sues Davis and Rowan County on behalf of four couples, two gay and two straight.

• July 8. Some county clerks ask for a special session of the Kentucky Legislature to pass a bill to accommodate those who have religious reasons for not issuing the licenses. Beshear says no, in part because of the expense.

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• Aug. 12. U.S. District Judge David Bunning says Davis must issue licenses to same-sex couples.

• Aug. 27. The U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals declines to grant Davis a stay of Bunning's decision.

• Sept. 1. The Supreme Court refuses to grant Davis a stay.

• Sept. 3. Davis is found in contempt of court and taken to jail.

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