LONDON, Ky. (AP) — A federal judge refused to jail officials of three Kentucky counties for posting the Ten Commandments in public buildings, and ordered both sides to try to settle the dispute.
The American Civil Liberties Union had asked that leaders of McCreary, Pulaski and Harlan counties be held in contempt over the judge's order to remove the displays from courthouse and school walls.
U.S. District Judge Jennifer Coffman had ordered the displays taken down last May after the ACLU filed suit challenging their constitutionality. Each of the counties obeyed her order, but then replaced the former displays with new ones that included the commandments along with documents such as the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights.
On Friday, Coffman denied a motion to find the county officials in contempt of her order.