AU Wins Battle Over Ten Commandments In South Carolina.The Charleston, S.C., County Council violated the First Amendment by erecting a display of the Ten Commandments on government property, a state judge ruled in March. Acting in a case brought by Americans United and the American Civil Liberties Union American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), nonpartisan organization devoted to the preservation and extension of the basic rights set forth in the U.S. Constitution. , Judge R. Markley Dennis Jr. said the Constitution "bans governments from appearing to take a position on questions of religious belief.... [T]his court has little choice but to find that the resolution at issue, and the subsequent display of the Ten Commandments, were in violation of the [separation of church and state
Americans United filed suit on behalf of three local residents after Councilman Tim Scott erected the plaque outside council offices in May of 1997. (One of the plaintiffs was Sharon Robles Robles is a common surname in the Spanish language meaning oaks, and may refer to:
Area, 31,055 sq mi (80,432 sq km). Pop. (2000) 4,012,012, a 15. Chapter.) Dennis had earlier ruled on a motion for summary judgment motion for summary judgment n. a written request for a judgment in the moving party's favor before a lawsuit goes to trial and based on recorded (testimony outside court) affidavits (or declarations under penalty of perjury), depositions, admissions of fact, answers that the plaque must come down. The March decision in Young v. County of Charleston will probably end the controversy. Although Scott said he wants the county to pursue an appeal, few of his fellow members on the nine-member council are interested in that option. In other news about Ten Commandments displays: * Georgia: Officials in Lumpkin County, Ga., agreed to remove a Ten Commandments display from the local courthouse when Americans United and the Georgia ACLU ACLU: see American Civil Liberties Union. threatened to take legal action. After receiving a letter from AU Litigation An action brought in court to enforce a particular right. The act or process of bringing a lawsuit in and of itself; a judicial contest; any dispute. When a person begins a civil lawsuit, the person enters into a process called litigation. Counsel Ayesha Khan, County Attorney William M. Brownell Jr. wrote, "Upon careful consideration of this issue, the Commissioner has agreed to take down the Ten Commandments display from the Lumpkin County Courthouse." The plaque was posted at the request of the Rev. Joel Crotzer of Holy Evangel Ministries. "The Lord founded this nation," he told The Dahlonega Nugget Nugget A 15 year Gold FHLMC (Freddie Mac) bond; similar to a Dwarf. , the local paper. "All other laws are secondary to God's laws. There is no separation of church and state." However, Walter Bell, president of the Georgia Americans United chapter, told the news media, "The plaque needed to be removed. It violated both the First Amendment and Georgia's constitution. The organization that put it up was clearly trying to force governmental approval of its religious dogma." * Arkansas: The House of Representatives has approved a measure that says the Ten Commandments may be displayed at government facilities, including public schools. The bill passed on a 51-18 vote in March. It has stalled, however, in the Senate Education Committee. |
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