This essay discusses the case of McCreamy County versus the American Civil Liberties Union in 2005 regarding the display of the Ten Commandments and whether it was in violation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. This essay also discusses the separation between church and state from a letter written by Thomas Jefferson and its significance in the Establishment Clause. Another case discussed in this essay is the Everson versus Board of Education case that took place in 1947. This case is vital in understanding how the interpretation of the law has change over the years in regards to religion and the law. From the Everson case to the McCreamy County case there is a significant difference in court ruling. The final case discussed
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The issue was that two identical series of Ten Commandments displays erected by county officials in two Kentucky Courthouses. The first exhibit or display had a large gold frame copy of the Ten Commandments that was hung in 1999 in a busy hallway in each courthouse. The respondents, the American Civil Liberties Union brought a lawsuit against the county petitioners that said the displays were a violation of the Constitution prohibiting the establishment of religion. The county responded by passing identical decisions stating that the commandments were the precedent legal code for Kentucky Law, citing various religious references (consider putting the cases if case they would want to reference it). The Ten Commandments now had smaller patriotic and legal documents that highlighted religious references. The district court held a preliminary injunction that required them to be taken down because they found its purpose was solely to advance religion which is in violation of the Constitution (capitalize all Constitution’s). A new lawyer was hired and the county got a new display, a third one within the year. This one was entitled “The Foundations of American Law and Government” and it included equal sized copies of other documents such as the Bill of Rights, a picture of Lady Justice and the lyrics of the Star Spangled Banner. They now have a description saying how important they, how they are a huge influence of the formation of our country, and lastly seen in the Declaration of Independence (Double check if Declaration of Independence is capitalized). The District Court found that it violated the Establishment Clause. The Sixth Circuit Panel also affirmed the preliminary injunction on much the same ground they reaffirmed that the purpose of the displays was to advance religion and is not permitted under the Establishment
The issue was that two identical series of Ten Commandments displays erected by county officials in two Kentucky Courthouses. The first exhibit or display had a large gold frame copy of the Ten Commandments that was hung in 1999 in a busy hallway in each courthouse. The respondents, the American Civil Liberties Union brought a lawsuit against the county petitioners that said the displays were a violation of the Constitution prohibiting the establishment of religion. The county responded by passing identical decisions stating that the commandments were the precedent legal code for Kentucky Law, citing various religious references (consider putting the cases if case they would want to reference it). The Ten Commandments now had smaller patriotic and legal documents that highlighted religious references. The district court held a preliminary injunction that required them to be taken down because they found its purpose was solely to advance religion which is in violation of the Constitution (capitalize all Constitution’s). A new lawyer was hired and the county got a new display, a third one within the year. This one was entitled “The Foundations of American Law and Government” and it included equal sized copies of other documents such as the Bill of Rights, a picture of Lady Justice and the lyrics of the Star Spangled Banner. They now have a description saying how important they, how they are a huge influence of the formation of our country, and lastly seen in the Declaration of Independence (Double check if Declaration of Independence is capitalized). The District Court found that it violated the Establishment Clause. The Sixth Circuit Panel also affirmed the preliminary injunction on much the same ground they reaffirmed that the purpose of the displays was to advance religion and is not permitted under the Establishment