La. American Civil Liberties Union awarded damages over Jesus portrait

SLIDELL, La. — A federal judge on April 16 agreed with the American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana that a decision by Slidell officials to hang a portrait of Jesus on the wall at Slidell City Court was unlawful. The judge awarded the ACLU nominal damages as well as attorneys fees for its role in a lawsuit filed last summer.

The ruling by U.S. District Court Judge Ivan L.R. Lemelle provides the ACLU with $1 in damages and paves the way for the ACLU to collect the fees it incurred when it sued the court, Judge Jim Lamz, the city of Slidell and St. Tammany Parish.

Marjorie Esman, the ACLU of Louisiana’s executive director, hailed the judge’s decision as a victory for all people, who she said the legal system is designed to protect. However, she said she would have preferred to settle the matter amicably and in a way that would not have forced Slidell taxpayers to foot the cost.

Lemelle said at the time that he likely would have granted a request by the ACLU to remove the portrait, as it clearly demonstrated a religious purpose and intent, which violates the First Amendment.

But Lemelle said he chose to allow the portrait to stay after officials expanded the display. Lemelle added that court officials had corrected their initial mistake.

— RNS