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Constitutional Law Keyed to Varat
McCreary County, Kentucky v. American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky
Citation:
545 U.S. 844, 125 S.Ct. 2722, 162 L.Ed.2d 729 (2005).Facts
Defendants posted the Ten Commandments on the walls of their courthouses. After being challenged in court, Defendants created more extensive displays meant to show that the Commandments were Kentucky’s “precedent legal code” which was also challenged. On its third attempt, Defendants included with the Commandments framed copies of the Magna Carta, Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights, lyrics to the Star Spangled Banner, the Mayflower Compact, National Motto, Preamble to the Kentucky Constitution, and a picture of Lady Justice. Plaintiffs filed suit and challenged this third attempt, arguing the display still violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.
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