Family Life

02.03.11 | Sarah Harnisch

A judge's 10 Commandments display in Ohio has been ruled unconstitutional. A federal appeals court ruled unanimously Wednesday that a local trial judge in Ohio has no constitutional right to hang in his courtroom a poster of the 10 Commandments. In a 17-page order, the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals declared that the presence of the poster violated the first amendment rights of lawyers and litigants appearing before the judge.  The lawsuit was brought by the American Civil Liberties Union, marks the second time in the past 11 years they've had to admonish this judge for his "courtroom art." The appeals court ruled the poster, quote, "sets forth overt religious messages and religious endorsements."