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Court Awards Nominal Damages and Attorneys Fees In Religious Display Case

By Howard Friedman

In Doe v. Parish of St. Tammany, (ED LA, April 16, 2008), a Louisiana federal district court awarded nominal damages and attorneys' fees to plaintiff in a case challenging the display of a picture of Jesus in the foyer of the Slidell, Louisiana City Court. After a lawsuit was filed, the city broadened the display to include depictions of various lawgivers throughout history. Last year, after that change, the court refused to issue a preliminary injunction. (See prior posting.) This written opinion confirms that "the expanded display presently in the City Court lobby does not suggest to the reasonable observer that its message is of a religious nature." However, the court reiterated, the original display did violate the Establishment Clause. The AP yesterday reported on the decision.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on April 17, 2008 (boomark / email).