It's the law

A copy of the Ten Commandments can remain on display with framed copies of American historical documents in the Mercer County, Ky., courthouse, federal judge Karl S. Forester ruled in Lexington. In his decision, released on Jan. 23, he concluded the display has "a legitimate purpose" of "acknowledging the historical influence of the Commandments on the development of this country's laws, and the record is devoid of any evidence indicating a religious purpose by the government."

The American Civil Liberties Union in November 2001 had sought an injunction to remove the Commandments on grounds it violated the Establishment Clause. Judge Forester rejected the request but gave the ACLU four months to come up with supporting reasons the display was unconstitutional. When the ACLU failed to respond by the extended deadline, the county's counsel-Pat Robertson's American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ)-filed for summary judgment to dismiss the ACLU suit. Judge Forester approved the motion. The ACLU says it will appeal.