LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY starcat_jewel)

Neon-lit Bible ruled inappropriate on Texas state monument.

Here's the kicker, as far as I'm concerned:

Jolly, writing for the majority, said that the original purpose of honoring Mosher was secular, but that purpose was changed in 1995 when [former State District Judge] Devine and [his court reporter] Friend placed a neon light inside the monument to outline the Bible.

Devine had campaigned on a platform of putting Christianity back into government and had Christian ministers lead prayers at the rededication ceremony for the monument, the opinion said. (emphasis mine)

When you as good as say that you're erecting a religious monument with government money, don't be surprised when you get slapped down on Constitutional grounds... by two Republican judges, yet. It also occurs to me to wonder why Devine isn't in office any more. Did he die, or retire, or was he perhaps removed for malfeasance after pulling this kind of shit on a legal case?

I almost hope they do appeal straight to the Supreme Court. This is such an open-and-shut violation that I doubt they'd even get cert unless the justices specifically wanted to issue a ruling which would set a firm precedent that it's unacceptable.

(cross-posted to my own journal)