Thou shalt leave the monument on Capitol grounds

JWR ^ | 3-1-05 | Terry Eastland

[FlyLow]

The Supreme Court will end its current term this summer with the state of Texas once again a party in one of the year's biggest cases. The case, which will be argued Wednesday, was brought against the state by Thomas Van Orden, the homeless attorney who lives in a tent in a wooded area in Austin. Mr. Van Orden objects to the Ten Commandments monument located on the grounds of the Capitol. It is an unconstitutional establishment of religion, he says, and he wants it removed.

Mr. Van Orden lost in federal district court and then in the 5th Circuit. Last fall, he asked the Supreme Court to hear his case. Ordinarily, a winning party opposes review by a higher court. But not this time. The state told the court that it should take Van Orden vs. Perry.

One reason the state took that position is that it could not credibly do otherwise: In 2003, the state filed as a friend of the court urging the court to address the constitutionality of a Ten Commandments monument in a case from another circuit. The state cited "the pronounced split" over the issue among courts of appeals, but the court declined to take the case.

[OldFriend]

Let me see if I have this right.

A homeless person can live on public land, but the Ten Commandments may not be posted on public land?

[wk4bush2004]

Of course. The liberals are living contradictions and they are going to continue to act that way. As long as they eradicate Christianity, they don't care.

It's just a matter of time before the ACLU gets involved.

[rockabyebaby]

>>>A homeless person can live on public land, but the Ten Commandments may not be posted on public land?<<

Ten Commandments to the back of the bus please and take Christmas with you.

[Arrowhead1952]

Austin Texas Idiot homeless attorney ping....

[Arrowhead1952]

Left you off the previous ping

[Socratic]

"A homeless person can live on public land..."

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I so agree with you!

Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. - This is such a totally Christian notion being practiced by the government. This man's very presence on public land is a living embodiment of Christianity. I think someone should bring a lawsuit to have him evicted.

[unlearner]

"end its current term this summer"

Did the Supreme Court relocate to south of the equator?

It is not summer here.

[Cicero]

The Supreme Court has been dodging this one. I would have preferred to wait until after Bush has made a few appointments, or we're likely to get yet another 5-4 abomination that needs to be reversed.

[MeekOneGOP]

Thank you, sir!