"DENVER -- An appeals court ruled Monday that a Ten Commandments monument at the county courthouse in Stigler violates the Constitution because its primary effect is to endorse a religion.
The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 3-0 in a challenge to the monument brought by the American Civil Liberties Union of Oklahoma and by a county resident.
"We hold that the [Haskell County commissioners'] actions in authorizing and maintaining the monument . . . had the impermissible principal or primary effect of endorsing religion in violation of the Establishment Clause" of the Constitution, the judges wrote in a 52-page decision.
Haskell County Commissioner Mitch Worsham said he didn't have a comment at this time about the decision.
A message left for Commissioner Kenneth Short Jr., has not been returned and Commissioner Paul Storie could not be reached for comment.
On May 18, Gov. Brad Henry signed a measure to place a privately funded monument of the Ten Commandments at the Capitol.
The week before, the Senate gave final approval to House Bill 1330, By Rep. Mike Ritze, R-Broken Arrow, and Sen. Randy Brogdon, R-Owasso.
The monument is to be placed where there are numerous
monuments, the measure said.
The measure passed despite concerns that it could draw a costly legal challenge and could be interpreted as the state's endorsement of a religion.
"I am disappointed they ruled that," said Ritze. "I don't know that much about the Haskell County display."
Ritze is the author of House Bill 1330, which calls for the placement of a privately funded Ten Commandments monument at the Capitol.
Ritze, who will provide the funding for it, said the Oklahoma law was based on a law in Texas which withstood constitutional scrutiny.
He believes the Oklahoma law will survive a legal challenge.
Henry, who signed the measure into law, declined to comment on the court's decision."
By ROBERT BOCZKIEWICZ, World correspondent and SARA PLUMMER, World Staff Writer
Published: 6/8/2009 4:08 PM
Last Modified: 6/8/2009 8:59 PM
The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 3-0 in a challenge to the monument brought by the American Civil Liberties Union of Oklahoma and by a county resident.
"We hold that the [Haskell County commissioners'] actions in authorizing and maintaining the monument . . . had the impermissible principal or primary effect of endorsing religion in violation of the Establishment Clause" of the Constitution, the judges wrote in a 52-page decision.
Haskell County Commissioner Mitch Worsham said he didn't have a comment at this time about the decision.
A message left for Commissioner Kenneth Short Jr., has not been returned and Commissioner Paul Storie could not be reached for comment.
On May 18, Gov. Brad Henry signed a measure to place a privately funded monument of the Ten Commandments at the Capitol.
The week before, the Senate gave final approval to House Bill 1330, By Rep. Mike Ritze, R-Broken Arrow, and Sen. Randy Brogdon, R-Owasso.
The monument is to be placed where there are numerous
monuments, the measure said.
The measure passed despite concerns that it could draw a costly legal challenge and could be interpreted as the state's endorsement of a religion.
"I am disappointed they ruled that," said Ritze. "I don't know that much about the Haskell County display."
Ritze is the author of House Bill 1330, which calls for the placement of a privately funded Ten Commandments monument at the Capitol.
Ritze, who will provide the funding for it, said the Oklahoma law was based on a law in Texas which withstood constitutional scrutiny.
He believes the Oklahoma law will survive a legal challenge.
Henry, who signed the measure into law, declined to comment on the court's decision."
By ROBERT BOCZKIEWICZ, World correspondent and SARA PLUMMER, World Staff Writer
Published: 6/8/2009 4:08 PM
Last Modified: 6/8/2009 8:59 PM
No surprised here. While I hate this B.S. going on and on and on and on and on... I am glad to see when things are said as much. Srsly, people. Keep your god out of my government and I might consider keeping my government out of your Church... which should be taxed, mind you.
