On September 14, Davis returned to work, at which point she no longer prevented her clerks from issuing licenses, though she continued to question their validity.

The plaintiffs contended that Obergefell mandates marriage licenses be issued to all couples across the nation, including in Rowan County.

He wrote that Kim Davis would suffer no irreparable harm by having her signature on a marriage license issued to a same-sex couple.

On August 26, a unanimous three-judge panel of the Sixth Circuit consisting of Judges Damon J. Keith, John M. Rogers and Bernice B. Donald denied the stay pending appeal.

[11] On November 2, Davis' lawyers filed a motion asking the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn four of Bunning's decisions, calling them a "rush to judgement" that "imposed direct pressure and substantial burden on Davis, forcing her to choose between her religious beliefs and forfeiting her essential personal freedom on one hand, or abandoning those beliefs to keep her freedom on the other hand".

Governor Steve Beshear said on July 7, 2015, that he "will not be calling a special session on this topic", citing the compliance of a majority of clerks to the Supreme Court's decision and the cost to taxpayers.

[16] Judge Bunning said he would revisit his decision to hold her in contempt in about a week, since by then her deputies will have issued licenses to same-sex couples in her place.

[15] On September 6, 2015, Davis's attorneys filed for an appeal of Judge Bunning's contempt of court ruling to the Sixth Circuit.

The order allowed Bunning to sanction Davis again should he determine that she had interfered or prevented her deputies from issuing marriage licenses.

[4] On December 22, 2015, newly elected governor Matt Bevin issued an executive order removing all county clerks' names from marriage licenses in Kentucky.

The State of Kentucky then filed a motion with the Sixth Circuit asking the court to dismiss Davis' appeal as moot.

On April 19, 2016, the Sixth Circuit granted the motion, noting the issue was now moot, and dismissed the case for lack of jurisdiction.