Judge Al Edgar To Issue Written Opinion
posted April 29, 2002
Several plaintiffs testifying in Federal Court on Monday said they were "shocked" that the Hamilton County Commission posted the 10 Commendments in three public buildings.
"I was shocked. I felt like I had to do something to stop them," said Tracy Knauss, a local publisher and photographer who is one of the plaintiffs.
Mr. Knauss said he is not a member of the American Civil Liberties Union, though many of the plaintiffs said they were.
The ACLU and 14 individuals are seeking to have Judge Al Edgar order the plaques to be taken down.
Hedy Weinberg, ACLU executive director for Tennessee since 1984, said the postings violate the separation of church and state.
She said the ACLU has 131 members in Hamilton County.
One of those is Rabbi Phillip Posner of Mizpah Congregation, who said the tablets "are offensive to me. I see it as a form of civic idolotry."
He said the 10 Commandments were not meant "to cause a sense of rancor and divisiveness," and he said there are many different texts of the commandments.
Dr. Tom Bibler, a UTC professor who is state treasurer of the ACLU, said, "I think it's a violation of the separation of church and state."
Rev. Melanie Sullivan of the Unitarian Universalist Church said her reaction to the posting was "sadness and anger and a feeling of being victimized at the courthouse. It makes me feel that we (members of her church) are not welcome there."
Rev. John Mingus, pastor of the Pilgrim Congregational Church, said he received a "very shocking" letter from County Commission Chairman Bill Hullander asking him and other ministers to post the 10 Commandments in their churches.
"I was deeply offended," he said.
The tablets are posted at the county courthouse, courts building and the Juvenile Court.
Judge Edgar took the matter under advisement and said he will issue a written opinion later.
The trial was completed by 1 p.m. Monday.
The county was represented by County Attorney Rheubin Taylor, Marty Lasley of the county attorney's office and local private attorneys Sam Elliott and Wayne Peters.
Two ACLU lawyers represented the plaintiffs.
Several County Commission members were present. They indicated they do not plan an appeal should the county lose.
Attorney Tayor said the courts have ruled differently in several 10 Commandment cases.
He said he has not received a bill from attorneys Peters and Elliott, but he said they are charging less than their normal rate. He said it is planned to cover the fees with private donations to a fund being administered by the Decosimo accounting firm.
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