washingtonpost.com
High Court Disallows Ten Commandments in Courthouses
In Separate Decision, Justices Uphold Displays on Government Land
By HOPE YEN
The Associated Press
Monday, June 27, 2005; 11:59 AM


WASHINGTON -- A sharply divided Supreme Court on Monday upheld the constitutionality of displaying the Ten Commandments on government land, but drew the line on displays inside courthouses, saying they violated the doctrine of separation of church and state.

The court ended its term Monday with no retirement announcements from any justices. Speculation focused on Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist, who has thyroid cancer, and is widely believed to be considering retirement.

Sending dual signals in ruling on the separation of church and state for the first time in a quarter-century, the high court said that displays of the Ten Commandments _ like their own courtroom frieze _ are not inherently unconstitutional. But each exhibit demands scrutiny to determine whether it goes too far in amounting to a governmental promotion of religion, the court said in a case involving Kentucky courthouse exhibits.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/27/AR2005062700416_pf.html