« Shameless Promotion | Main | Ultimate Juror Excuse »
February 09, 2005
Appeals Court Sued
UPDATE: You can view a gif of the seal here (link courtesy of Mr. Bashman)
This is getting ridiculous.
The federal appeals court that ruled the Pledge of Allegiance was an unconstitutional endorsement of religion is being sued for allegedly displaying the Ten Commandments on its seal and courthouses.
An attorney who was recently granted permission to practice in the 9th Circuit appellate court filed the lawsuit. Why? He said the document that gave him permission to practice had a seal on it that contained the 10 Commandments.
Cathy Catterson, the court's clerk, said the seal highlights a woman, known as "the Majesty of the Law" who is reading a large book. At her feet is a tablet with 10 unreadable lines on it - what Donlon believes is the Ten Commandments.
Catterson said the tablet has "the same shape" of the Ten Commandments but "you can't read the text of it."
You can't read the text, but somehow he 'knows' it's the Ten Commandments? Hells bells, for all he 'knows', it could represent the court's docket sheet. In fact, if it's unreadable, it probably is a docket sheet.
Good grief.
Posted by Rita at February 9, 2005 05:55 AM
Comments
Actually, it probably IS the Ten Commandments. Or a representation of them. I'm curious about when the seal was designed. There are a lot of Christian symbols scattered throughout government seals, flags, statuary and the like.
Nevertheless, the guy is a grandstanding idiot, and should be given a snuggie. And I can't imagine that this will endear him to the people that he faces on a regular basis.
Posted by: Keith at February 9, 2005 09:43 AM
Could just as easily be the Bill of Rights. It's my understanding that the seal was taken from some 19th century artwork.
Posted by: rita at February 9, 2005 07:08 PM
Although there is a delicious irony about the whole thing, given that the same "ceremonial deism" issue is involved.
Posted by: Tony at February 10, 2005 05:08 PM