Posted on 06/28/2005 8:59:38 PM PDT by Crackingham
When the American Civil Liberties Union filed suit against a Ten Commandments display hanging in the breezeway of the courthouse in Winder, Barrow County officials rallied behind the exhibit and vowed to defend it. On Monday, after sifting through two highly anticipated U.S. Supreme Court rulings over displays in Kentucky and Texas, a top Barrow official said it was unclear how the decisions will affect his county's defense. But an ACLU lawyer predicted the rulings will lead to the eventual removal of the display.
"Both opinions strengthen our case," ACLU attorney Maggie Garrett said. "There was an obvious religious purpose there for putting up the Ten Commandments. It's now clear that's unconstitutional."
The ACLU's case, filed on behalf of an anonymous plaintiff, had been put on hold pending the Supreme Court's rulings. Legal counsel will brief the County Commission tonight on the case, Commission Chairman Doug Garrison said.
"I hope we can continue," Garrison said. "There's no change in direction in us wanting to leave the Ten Commandments posted here and for us to acknowledge God."
So far, Barrow has paid $264,747 in legal fees defending the lawsuit, filed in 2003. The county has been reimbursed with more than $212,000 in private donations and from Ten Commandments Georgia, a group that promotes such displays across the state, Garrison said. Jody Hice, president of Ten Commandments Georgia, said his group would keep supporting Barrow as long as the county defends the display.
"We'll do whatever it takes to support them," Hice said. "Either we have a right to acknowledge God or we don't have a right to acknowledge God."
(Excerpt) Read more at ajc.com ...
I think that if a christian Judge oks a display in his courtroom then it will have to be taken down, but if a atheist puts in in his courtroom then it is ok
What's to decipher? Outside, OK; inside, No-No.
Why not just put a framed copy of the NATIONAL ANTHEM on the wall of the courthouse!
What will happen when "they" see the second verse that says.."And this be our motto, 'IN GOD IS OUR TRUST'".
I would love to see the reaction to the ACLU for trying to remove the NATIONAL ANTHEM from courthouses!
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