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Indiana Civil Liberties Union Retreats in its Attack on Ten Commandments Monument
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(Ann Arbor, Michigan) - A lawsuit brought by the Indiana Civil Liberties Union (ICLU), on behalf of two plaintiffs, to take down a Ten Commandments monument that has stood in front of the Knox County Courthouse since 1958 was recently dismissed by a federal judge.
The Thomas More Law Center, a national, public interest law firm specializing in religious freedom and located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, represented Knox County, at no charge, along with the American Center For Law & Justice - Midwest and Knox County Attorney Bruce Smith. The two plaintiffs had filed the lawsuit under the fictitious names John Doe and Jane Roe to protect their true identities claiming they feared reprisal from members of the community. The federal judge, however, found no justification for them to proceed under the pseudonyms and required them to reveal their true identities.
After the federal judge's ruling, the ICLU filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit. The ICLU explained that the plaintiff using the name John Doe had moved out of Knox County and did not want to proceed with the lawsuit. And, the plaintiff using the name Jane Roe did not want her actual name to be revealed and, therefore, wanted the lawsuit dismissed.
Richard Thompson, Chief Counsel for the Thomas More Law Center, observed, "We are aware that this was a tactical retreat by the ACLU, and we are pleased the case was dismissed. Nevertheless, it is clear that the ACLU has embarked upon a national strategy to strip displays of the Ten Commandments from every public square, and the Thomas More Law Center stands ready to assist any government entity willing to resist the ACLU's efforts."
The Thomas More Law Center is a national public interest law firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It receives funding from the Ave Maria Foundation. The Center defends and promotes religious freedom, time-honored family values, and the sanctity of human life through education, litigation, and related activities. The Center, a section 501(c)(3) organization, provides its services at no charge and can be contacted at (734) 827-2001.