Updated 2:50 p.m.: The lawyer for a county clerk in Kentucky who has been released from jail after she defied court orders says the marriage licenses issued in her absence are invalid.

Mat Staver, with the Christian firm Liberty Counsel, spoke outside the jail Tuesday as Rowan County clerk Kim Davis was released.

Staver said: “Kim cannot and will not violate her conscience.” He would not say whether Davis intends to comply with a court order issued Tuesday that she not interfere with the deputy clerks issuing licenses out of her office.

Staver said: “You’ll find out in the near future.” He didn’t elaborate.

Allison Martin, a spokeswoman for Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway, confirmed Tuesday that the office evaluated the licenses issued in Davis’ absence and believes they are valid.

Updated 2:40 p.m.: The Kentucky county clerk who refused to issue marriage licenses because of her religious beliefs has been released from jail, where she’s was held since Thursday on a contempt of court charge.

She emerged Tuesday afternoon to hundreds of supporters outside the jail. They sang “Amazing Grace” and “God Bless America” as her lawyer spoke to the crowd and news outlets gathered outside.

The federal judge who ordered Rowan County clerk Kim Davis jailed five days earlier granted her release Tuesday and warned her not to interfere as deputy clerks in her office issue the licenses.

Lawyer Mat Staver of Liberty Counsel refused to say whether Davis would obey that order. He says, “Kim Davis cannot and will not violate her conscience.” She appeared to be crying and said little. She was asked: “Was it worth it?” She smiled and nodded.

Staver also didn’t answer questions about when Davis would return to work.

Davis refused to issue marriage licenses after the Supreme Court effectively legalized gay marriage nationwide. Davis repeatedly defied court orders to grant the licenses. She cited “God’ authority” and her deeply held religious beliefs that gay marriage is a sin.

Updated 2:30 p.m.: The crowd outside a jail where a Kentucky clerk has been ordered released after her refusal to issue marriage licenses is swelling, reaching several hundred as supporters sing “Amazing Grace” and “God Bless America.”

The federal judge who ordered Rowan County clerk Kim Davis jailed five days earlier granted her release Tuesday and warned her not to interfere as deputy clerks in her office issue the licenses.

Before the release order, GOP presidential candidates Mike Huckabee and Ted Cruz each had planned jailhouse visits with Davis on Tuesday afternoon. After the order, each went into the jailhouse’s front door, as did Davis’ husband.

Davis refused to issue marriage licenses after the Supreme Court effectively legalized gay marriage nationwide. Davis repeatedly defied court orders to grant the licenses. She cited “God’ authority” and her deeply held religious beliefs that gay marriage is a sin.

Updated 2:15 p.m.: An attorney representing the couples whose lawsuit against a Kentucky clerk led to her imprisonment says she hopes the official complies with the court’s order not to interfere with the granting of marriage licenses.

Attorney Laura Landenwich said Tuesday shortly after Rowan County clerk Kim Davis was ordered released that her clients just want their licenses. Landenwich says: “We’re ready to resolve this case. I don’t think it’s good for the commonwealth to continue this discussion.”

But Landenwich says the couples wonder whether Rowan County Clerk Davis will actually follow the order upon her release after five days in jail. On Thursday, she opted to stay in jail shortly after she was sent there, rather than promise not to interfere with her deputies as they issued licenses.

Landenwich says: “I would hope that she would recognize her legal obligations at this point and do what’s right.”

Updated 2:10 p.m.: The Kentucky county clerk who has refused to issue marriage licenses because of her religious beliefs will be released from jail, where she’s been held since Thursday on a contempt of court charge.

U.S. District Judge David Bunning lifted the contempt order Tuesday and ordered Rowan County clerk Kim Davis released.

Bunning’s ruling says he’s satisfied that Davis’ office is complying with orders to grant marriage licenses. He ordered Davis not to interfere with that business. Deputy clerks have been issuing the licenses. Five of the six deputies told Bunning they would do so, although some were reluctant and cited religious beliefs. Bunning’s ruling requests updates on the five deputy clerks’ compliance from their lawyers every 14 days.

Bunning sent Davis to jail on Thursday. Before the release order, GOP presidential candidates Mike Huckabee and Ted Cruz each had planned jailhouse visits with her Tuesday afternoon.

Outside the jail, word spread the crowd. Some said they couldn’t believe it. Supporters chanted “Let Kim go!” and handed out white crosses. Police officers and others gathered at the front door. Davis’ husband, Joe Davis, went inside. Huckabee and then Cruz followed shortly after.

Updated 1:50 p.m.: A second county clerk in Kentucky who has refused to issue marriage licenses because of religious beliefs says he’s relieved that Kim Davis has been ordered released from jail.

Casey County clerk Casey Davis says he thinks a judge did the right thing Tuesday by ordering her release.

Davis, who is not related to Rowan County clerk, says: “It’s been a total injustice.”

Casey Davis is still not issuing marriage licenses. He says the conflict could come to his county next. He says only one same-sex couple has inquired about a license. They called the office and were told no licenses were being issued, and Davis says that’s the last he heard from them.

He says that gay marriage is a sin and that he’s willing to go to jail, as Kim Davis did. But he like many other clerks, Casey Davis hopes for a legislative solution; however, the state legislature isn’t scheduled to meet until January. The governor has refused to call a costly special session.

Updated 1:05 p.m.: The Kentucky county clerk who has refused to issue marriage licenses because of her religious beliefs will be released from jail, where she’s been held since Thursday on a contempt of court charge.

U.S. District Judge David Bunning lifted the contempt order Tuesday and ordered Rowan County clerk Kim Davis released. Bunning ordered her not to interfere with the issuing of gay marriage licenses.

Bunning sent Davis to jail on Thursday after she refused to comply with his order that Davis issue marriage licenses. She had refused to grant licenses to any couples, gay or straight, since shortly after the U.S. Supreme Court effectively legalized gay marriage.

Outside the jail where Davis is held, word spread slowly through a crowd of supporters Tuesday afternoon. Some said they couldn’t believe the news.

Updated 1 p.m.: A Republican congressman from Kentucky says a federal judge’s decision to jail a Kentucky clerk was premature because the state legislature hasn’t had time to update its marriage laws since the U.S. Supreme Court effectively legalized gay marriage.

Republican U.S. Rep Thomas Massie said Tuesday outside the jail where Rowan County clerk Kim Davis is being held that state law is in flux.

He pointed out that Kentucky’s law still requires the woman in a relationship to apply for a marriage license. It makes no mention of same-sex relationships. He says the legislature needs to update that and several other laws, including ones that require marriage licenses to be issued under the county clerk’s authority.

Massie says: “I’m here because five Supreme Court justices stole my job. They legislated. They wrote law.”

Updated 12:30 p.m.: Dozens of people are crowding the lawn outside the detention center where two GOP presidential candidates will meet with a Kentucky clerk jailed for refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

Candidate Mike Huckabee will host a rally Tuesday in front of the jail after he meets with Rowan County clerk Kim Davis. He says Davis is simply exercising her religious freedom. Their visit is scheduled for about 2 p.m. Fellow candidate Ted Cruz says he’ll meet with Davis about 1 p.m., after he holds a news conference.

Fifty-seven-year-old Tom Baker drove more than two hours from his home for the rally. He says: “She hasn’t committed any crime. I don’t see how anybody can force anybody to go against their religion.”

Local officials scrambled to manage the crowd. A fire truck blocked access to the jail. Businesses along Main Street put up yellow caution tape. Some wanted to prevent visitors from clogging their lots. Others charged as much as $20 for parking. At red lights, men handed out literature urging people to write letters to Davis and to the judge who put her in jail.

Updated 12:25 p.m.: Three of the four couples whose lawsuit led to the jailing of a Kentucky clerk on a contempt charge have received marriage licenses.

Attorneys for the couples filed a report Tuesday. It notes that two same-sex couples and one straight couple have received licenses since Rowan County clerk Kim Davis was ordered to jail.

Davis refused to issue marriage licenses after the Supreme Court effectively legalized gay marriage nationwide. Four couples, two gay and two straight, sued her. Davis defied court orders, and U.S. District Judge David Bunning sent her to jail Thursday.

Bunning also asked the couples’ attorneys to submit a report detailing the status of their attempt to receive licenses. Five of Davis’ six deputy clerks agreed to issue the licenses. In the document filed Tuesday, attorneys attached the licenses the three couples received. The forms were altered to exclude Kim Davis’ name and were initialed by a deputy clerk.

It’s unclear whether the report will factor into the judge’s decision over Davis’ continued imprisonment.

Updated 4:40 a.m.: Presidential candidate and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee will join protesters at a Tuesday rally outside the jail where a Kentucky clerk is locked in a cell over her refusal to issue marriage licenses to gay couples.

The rally is scheduled to begin in the afternoon after Huckabee’s planned private visit with Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis.

Davis was jailed by a federal judge last week after defying several court orders.

Her lawyers spent Labor Day weekend filing appeals in an effort to force her release, but she remains there on a contempt charge.

Huckabee, a former Baptist minister who often reaches out to religious conservatives, says Davis is simply exercising her religious freedom by denying the marriage licenses.