Oklahoma Supreme Court Bans Ten Commandments From Statehouse Grounds

The Oklahoma Supreme Court declared that it is unconstitutional to display a statue of the Ten Commandments approved by the state legislature on the grounds of the state Capitol building in Oklahoma City.

In a 7-2 ruling on June 30, the court stated that the state Constitution “specifically banned any uses ‘indirectly’ benefitting religion,” adding that “the Ten Commandments are obviously religious in nature, and are an integral part of the Jewish and Christian faiths.”

Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin said she “is disappointed with the court’s opinion that a privately funded monument acknowledging the historical importance of the Ten Commandments is not allowed on Capitol grounds,” according to a spokesman for the governor. “She will consult with the attorney general to evaluate the state’s legal options moving forward.”

State Attorney General Scott Pruitt said that he will file a petition with the court to rehear the case “in light of the broader implications of this ruling on other areas of state law.”

“Quite simply, the Oklahoma Supreme Court got it wrong. The court completely ignored the profound historical impact of the Ten Commandments on the foundation of Western law,” Pruitt said.

The lawsuit was brought by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) “on behalf of a local Baptist minister and several other citizens” who claimed that the statue of the Ten Commandments violated the Oklahoma State Constitution.

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