atheist_in_foxhole

This is the official seal for the 9th circuit court, the court that made the controversial pledge decision last month:



Does anyone else find it ironic that a court that almost always comes down in favor of strict church/state separation has the ten commandments in its official seal?

oriecat

I don't see what you mean. Where are the 10C?

atheist_in_foxhole

See the two little tablets with 10 roman numerals to the left of lady justice (by her leg)? It's hard to see, but it's there.

[ July 24, 2002: Message edited by: atheist_in_foxhole ]</p>

Toto

There's also a representation of Moses carrying the decalogue on the Supreme Court building. But it's considered to be a historical-cultural symbol and not a religious symbol because you can't read what's written there.

Corwin

Are you sure that's the 10C? It's a woman sitting in a chair... it could be the Code of Hammurabi for all we can tell....

4th Generation Atheist

Could even, conceivably, be the Bill of Rights. But I doubt it---the shape of those tablets is a little too "traditional 10C."

Bill

The <a href="http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/medieval/hamframe.htm" target="_blank">Code of Hamurabi</a> has 282 "commandments," plus a lengthy prologue and epilogue. It does not compute that ten Roman numerals on a tablet could possibly represent the Code!

Besides, I've heard that other Courts of Appeals have the Ten Commandments on their seals as well. It is probably a uniform design mandated by Act of Congress. Have you looked at the seals of any other Courts of Appeals?

== Bill

Darkside_Spirit

So now Michael Newdow can sue the 9th Circuit Court for endorsing the ten commandments

Are US courts allowed to rule on suits in which they are a party?

snoiduspoitus

I'm reminded of the judge (Alabama if I remember correctly) with the Ten Commandments posted in his court.

Can he now sentence to death anyone working on the Sabbath, as Moses commands?

Philosoft

Roy Moore, now chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court if I'm not mistaken. In fact, he managed to have a two-ton stone monument of the Decalogue dragged into the center of the courthouse proper in the middle of the night. And, somehow, the Alabama legislature hasn't been able to take the stupid thing out.