The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday issued two mixed rulings on the display of the Ten Commandments in public places.

In a 5- ruling, the court disallowed the display of the commandments at a courthouse in Kentucky. The majority said two counties put up the religious text with a religious purpose in mind, in violation of the U.S. Constitution's separation of church and state clause.

On the other hand, a display at the Texas Capitol doesn't violate the Constitution, the court said in another 5-4 ruling. The commandments had been up for decades and had an historical context, the majority concluded.

The Kentucky ruling was made by Justice David Souter and joined by the so-called liberal wing of the court. Justice Sandra Day O'Connor was the swing vote that made the case 5-4.

The Texas ruling was made by Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist and joined by the so-called conservative wing. Justice Stephen G. Breyer, who almost always sides with tribes in Indian law cases, was the swing vote.

Get the Story:
Justices Disallow Ten Commandments in Courthouses (The Washington Post 6/28)
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Christian Groups Plan More Monuments (The Washington Post 6/28)
Justices Allow a Commandments Display, Bar Others (The New York Times 6/28)
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Split Rulings on Displays Draw Praise and Dismay (The New York Times 6/28)

Decision in McCreary County v. ACLU:
Syllabus | Opinion [Souter] | Concurrence [O'Connor] | Dissent [Scalia]

Decision in Van Orden v. Perry:
Syllabus | Opinion [Rehnquist] | Concurrence [Scalia] | Concurrence [Thomas] | Concurrence [Breyer] | Dissent [Stevens] | Dissent [O'Connor] | Dissent [Souter]

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