Court: OK Capitol Ten Commandments Monument Stays
Federal judge dismisses lawsuit challenging Ten Commandments monument at Oklahoma Capitol
Article by: TIM TALLEY , Associated Press
OKLAHOMA CITY — A federal judge on Tuesday dismissed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of a privately funded Ten Commandments monument on the grounds of the Oklahoma Capitol.
The lawsuit filed by a New Jersey-based nonprofit group, American Atheists Inc., and two of its members in January 2014 alleged the monument violated the First Amendment’s prohibition of government sanctioning of a specific religion, as well as other constitutional rights. U.S. District Judge Robin Cauthron ruled that the group lacked legal standing to file the lawsuit.
An attorney for the group, Eric O. Husby of Tampa, Florida, said he disagrees with the ruling but that no decision has been made to appeal.
Cauthron’s decision was hailed by Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt, whose office defended the monument.