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Fight for Louisiana court's Jesus portrait successful

It appears the attempt to clear the Slidell Louisiana city courthouse of its Jesus portrait has been thwarted -- for now, at least. A federal judge ruled Friday against a preliminary injunction request from the ACLU, and against its case that the portrait is unconstitutional.



Attorneys from the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) -- which serves as legal counsel for the city, city court officials, and St. Tammany Parish in the lawsuit -- say federal judge Ivan Lemelle denied the injunction motion, ruled against the American Civil Liberties Union, and left only attorney's fees as a matter to be discussed.

The case had been filed in July with a claim of "mental anguish and emotional distress" caused because of the religious painting.

On August 31, the city added 15 more portraits of famous historical lawgivers to the courthouse walls, hoping to gain some legal traction by featuring a full display of persons who contributed to the foundation of America's laws. Included in that display is a reproduction of the U.S. Constitution and explanations of the various figures in the portraits.

ADF senior legal counsel Mike Johnson says Friday's ruling is believed to be the first-ever court decision that specifically reviewed and held up as constitutional an image of an adult Jesus on public display. In addition, says the attorney, the ruling effectively halts in part the ACLU's "quest to have historical references sandblasted from existence" in the U.S.