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ROANOKE, VA -- 7:32 p.m. It was a decision that both sides said they didn't see coming. On Monday U.S. District Court Judge Michael Urbanski orderedLiberty Counsel (which is representing the Giles County SchoolBoard) and the American Civil Liberties Union (which isrepresenting the two anonymous people that filed the lawsuit) to gointo mediation to see if a compromise can be reached. "It's not something I had anticipated but I certainly understandwhy he ordered us into mediation," said ACLU Attorney RebeccaGlenberg. "I think it's going to be a positive effort." "Up until this point and time there had been no discussion by theplaintiffs with regards to the proposal or the possibility that thejudge threw out," said Liberty Counsel Attorney Mathew Staver. According to the lawsuit filed, Doe 1 and Doe 2 are suing the GilesCo. School Board for displaying the 10 commandments at Narrows HighSchool. The commandments were first displayed in the school beginning in1999. It was removed in December 2010 after complaints to theschool board. But after a meeting on January 20, 2011 the school board voted todisplay it in Narrows High School again. In court on Monday Judge Urbanski said that decision wasreligiously motivated in part due to pressure from the community. One school board member was quoted in the meeting minutes saying:"Thank you all for coming and supporting the 10 commandments." Staver argued on behalf of the school board, saying thecommandments are historical documents and were not displayed forreligious reasons. "The (school) board always has believed that there is a roll forchurch and state," he said. "But the board also believes that thisparticular display is constitutional and in fact that it isintegrated in their curriculum." Staver added that it is an extension of the school's curriculumsince the 10 commandments are referenced in different textbooks. Glenberg strongly disagreed, saying the display doesn't make ahistorical connection. She said it would only be constitutional if other religiousdocuments were displayed. "When the school promotes its own religious view it is violatingthe constitution," Glenberg said. "It is separating students intoinsiders and outsiders." One proposal by Judge Urbanski that will likely be discussed in themediation is to only display the final six commandments, whichdon't reference God. Both sides wouldn't say if it's something they would agree to. If the case is settled out of court it could potentially save theGiles Co. School Board more than $100,000. If a judge were to rule in favor of Doe 1 and Doe 2 the schoolboard would likely be required to pay the ACLU's court fees. Historically no cases where the 10 commandments were displayed in apublic school have been upheld. ----- 4:55 p.m. From Aaron Martin, WSLS reporter at the courthouse The federal judge in the Giles County Ten Commandments case decidedto send both sides to mediation, instead of making a ruling. The judge recommended displaying only 6 of commandments that do notuse "God" in the wording. We are high quality suppliers, our products such as China Android Touchpad Tablet PC , China 10.1 Inch Tablet PC for oversee buyer. To know more, please visits Dual Core Tablet PC.
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