South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson has joined a coalition of 18 states in support of a Louisiana law that mandates the display of the Ten Commandments in public schools. The group of attorneys general filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, which is currently reviewing an appeal after a lower court found the law unconstitutional.
Attorney General Wilson stated, “The Ten Commandments are displayed at the U.S. Supreme Court and on other prominent buildings in Washington, D.C., because they have historical significance as one of the foundations of our legal system, and it’s important for our children to learn about them. Our society is healthier and stronger when we have more religion in public life—not less. It is time to end the left’s war on religion.”
In their brief, the attorneys general argue that Supreme Court precedent requires interpreting the Establishment Clause by looking at historical practices and understandings. They assert this supports Louisiana’s position.
They write, “A ‘close look’ at our Nation’s history reveals that ‘no one at the time of the founding was recorded as arguing that the use of religious symbols in public contexts was a form of religious establishment.’”
Other states joining South Carolina include Kentucky, Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, and West Virginia.
The full text of their legal filing can be accessed online.
