Ten Commandments Plaque to Stay on Chester County Courthouse

June 27, 2003

Source: The Express-Times

http://www.nj.com/news/expresstimes/pa/index.ssf?/base/news-6/1056704664167180.xml

On June 27, 2003 The Express-Times reported that a "Ten Commandments plaque that has hung for 83 years on the facade of the Chester County [PA] courthouse does not constitute an official endorsement of religion, and may remain there for the sake of historical preservation, a federal appeals court ruled Thursday... Northampton County [PA] officials praised the ruling Thursday, although it is still unclear how it will affect two Ten Commandments plaques hanging in the county courthouse in Easton... Ruling on the Chester County case, the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said a reasonable person familiar with the plaque's history would regard the decision to leave it in place as religiously neutral, rather than evangelical."