This is quickly turning into a political fiasco for the Democrats and Progressives. At least in KY.
I predicted that yesterday. The thought actually occurred to me that the Judge knew this might happen, and so provided the key to doing it.
Creating a public Martyr is the last thing they wanted to do. If something would provoke a backlash, that would be it.
Your thought about the Judge crossed my mind as well. Iirc his mother said (noted on an earlier thread) that he disagreed with the decision but felt obligated to implement it.
So he puts her in jail, but doesn’t impose fines that would cause her any long-term financial distress. She’s now a martyr and folk hero. There’s immediate blowback against Progressives, which will be exacerbated with their triumphalism and cheering of her jailing.
And the “cooler” heads within the Democratic Party have nowhere to go on this.
I feel really bad for her right now, but this is probably the least-worst scenario for her and her beliefs.