First Amendment

Religious Monument At Oklahoma Courthouse Is Unconstitutional

Supreme Court Lets Ruling Stand:

Religious Monument At Oklahoma Courthouse Is Unconstitutional

March 1, 2010

Court Declines Review Of Appellate Decision That Government-Sponsored Ten Commandments Monument Improperly Endorses Religion

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Supreme Court today let stand a federal appellate ruling that a government-sponsored Ten Commandments monument placed on a county courthouse lawn is unconstitutional and must be removed. By rejecting an appeal by the commissioners of Haskell County, Oklahoma, and declining to review the case, the Supreme Court left undisturbed a unanimous June 2009 decision by the U.S. Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals that the county commissioners advanced their personal religious beliefs by erecting the monument. The lawsuit was filed by the American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Oklahoma on behalf of a local resident.

“The Tenth Circuit’s decision was an important victory for religious freedom and we are pleased that the Supreme Court left that ruling undisturbed,” said Daniel Mach, Director of the ACLU Program on Freedom of Religion and Belief. “The Ten Commandments undoubtedly have religious significance for many, and we would vigorously defend the right of individuals, churches, or businesses to display this monument publicly on their own property. But the government should not be in More >

Oklahoman’s artistic rights violated

Press Release

July 21, 2009

A musician was arrested at the Cherokee Casino in Catoosa, Okla., last week for allegedly trampling an American flag as part of his act. According to The Tulsa World, the musician was originally charged with treating the U.S. flag with indignity, and the complaint was later amended to outraging public decency.

The arrest of this musician is an unconstitutional violation of his First Amendment rights, backed by settled U.S. Supreme Court precedents.

“I find it surprising that law enforcement would make such a glaring mistake in light of such a well-established line of case law,” said C.S. Thornton, Deputy Director of the ACLU of Oklahoma. “We are appalled at the actions taken by law enforcement and are calling for the immediate dismissal of any pending charges against Marion Gooding.

“This is a clear violation of Gooding’s First Amendment rights.”

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