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Old 04-08-2003, 08:28 AM   #1
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Default Third Circuit Takes Up Ten Commandments Issue

Here's a brief roundup of yesterday's oral arguments in Freethought Society of Greater Philadelphia v. County of Chester, a case involving a Ten Commandments plaque affixed to the facade of a Pennsylvania courthouse. Looks like the county is trying to make some new law:

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But William M. McSwain, one of three lawyers who argued the case for the Chester County Commissioners, who want the plaque to remain as an historic artifact on an historic courthouse, contended the 1971 precedent, a case that originated in Philadelphia known as Lemon v. Kurtzman, was no longer good law.

McSwain argued that Chester County's case is unique and the Third Circuit should craft a legal exception to the First Amendment's "establishment clause" for "historic artifacts."
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Old 04-08-2003, 09:11 AM   #2
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Fine. When they find the Ark of the Covenant, and pull out the original stone tablets, those will be *historic* *artifacts*. In the meantime, it's a cheap knockoff with an inherently religious message and negligible bearing on jurisprudence.
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Old 04-08-2003, 04:22 PM   #3
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Would "historic artifacts" include the DeMille Commandments found all over the USA? (As seen in this slide show.)
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Old 04-10-2003, 10:37 AM   #4
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OMG, they were a movie promotion essentially. That's great
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Old 04-11-2003, 08:32 AM   #5
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Thanks *Dr Maturin*, for keeping us stumblers clued to the news. And thanks to you also for your recent intervention for you-know-what. Abe
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