Attorney Erin Smith of First Liberty says private individuals who have donated toward the effort want to make sure the document is posted in schools because Ten Commandments formed the foundations of American law in our legal system.
"And so it's important that they're taught to kids and that kids can see the Ten Commandments in any public place, right? Because this Arkansas law doesn't just cover schools, it covers all public buildings, maintained and operated by taxpayer funds,” Smith said.
Smith says that Judge Timothy Brooks' argument that the Ten Commandments violate the Establishment Clause is mistaken.
Monday’s ruling blocks the new law in Springdale, Fayetteville, Bentonville and Siloam Springs public school districts in Northwest Arkansas, where students and their families sued to block the forced Ten Commandment displays, The Arkansas Times reported.
In a lengthy, sometimes harshly worded opinion Brooks dismissed two of the state’s arguments as “disingenuous” and “intellectually dishonest,” The Times said.
The ruling in the Western District of Arkansas came down hours before Act 573 would have taken effect and about a week before public-school classes across the state resume for the fall semester.
“The Supreme Court has already addressed some of this. Just having religious content or promoting a message that would be consistent with religious doctrine doesn't automatically run afoul of the establishment clause,” Smith said.
She says Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin will be appealing Brooks' ruling, asking the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals to reverse the judge's decision.
