Liberty Institute: Oklahoma Supreme Court Is Taking "Most Radical" Position On Ten Commandments In Nation's History

OKLAHOMA CITY, July 27, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, Liberty Institute expressed its disappointment in the Oklahoma Supreme Court's refusal to rehear the Oklahoma Ten Commandments case.

Hiram Sasser, Deputy Chief Counsel for Liberty Institute, said, "We are disappointed the Oklahoma Supreme Court declined to follow the United States Supreme Court, the United States Courts of Appeal for the Tenth, Ninth, Eighth, and Fifth Circuits and the Colorado Supreme Court. Indeed, Judge Alfred P. Murrah ruled in 1973 that an identical monument bearing the Ten Commandments was perfectly constitutional where it stood in Salt Lake City.  The Oklahoma Supreme Court has taken the most radical position on removing the Ten Commandments of any court in this Nation's history. It is my hope the legislature and the governor take appropriate actions to repeal this section of the Oklahoma Constitution in hopes of restoring the appropriate legal analysis forged by Judge Murrah decades ago."

Case Background
In 2009, the Oklahoma state legislature gave bipartisan approval for a privately funded monument of the Ten Commandments on the Oklahoma State Capitol grounds. In August 2013, the ACLU filed a state court lawsuit seeking the removal of the Ten Commandments monument from the Oklahoma state capitol grounds. In October 2014, the judge ruled that the Ten Commandments Monument is constitutional. The ACLU appealed the ruling to the Oklahoma Supreme Court. On June 30, 2015, the Court reversed the trial court's decision. Contrary to long-standing Oklahoma Supreme Court precedent, which had previously permitted a 50-foot-tall lighted cross on Oklahoma City public property, the court held that the monument was unconstitutional and must be removed. Immediately following the release of the opinion, Oklahoma's Attorney General Scott Pruitt filed a motion for rehearing. Liberty Institute, along with Oklahoma's Attorney General, represents the State of Oklahoma in the case. Liberty Institute does not communicate on behalf of the State of Oklahoma.

About Liberty Institute
Liberty Institute is a national nonprofit legal group dedicated to defending and restoring religious liberty across America — in our schools, for our churches and throughout the public arena. Liberty's vision is to reestablish religious liberty in accordance with the principles of our nation's Founders. For information, visit www.LibertyInstitute.org.

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SOURCE Liberty Institute

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