Kentucky County Defies Court, Posts Ten Commandments.

Acting in defiance of a federal court order, officials in McCreary County, Ky., have reposted a copy of the Ten Commandments in the local courthouse.

Members of the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars put up the religious decree Oct. 10 alongside copies of the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights and other historical documents. The veterans' groups took action after the Fiscal Court, the county's governing body, voted unanimously to repost the document.

"There's an element out there who is trying to destroy our country," said County Judge-Executive Jimmie Greene. "We don't intend to let them."

Officials in the southeastern Kentucky jurisdiction insist the display is constitutional because other documents are included. However, U.S. District Judge Jennifer Coffman ordered a similar display removed last May, pending the outcome of a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky.

"We think this display is OK," said Paul Worthington, commander of the local American Legion post. "I don't look for it to be questioned. If she [the judge] rules it has to come down, we will have to obey."

ACLU officials said they will ask the federal judge to issue an injunction in the ACLU v. McCreary County case finding the county officials in contempt of court.