Van Orden v. Perry

Van Orden v. Perry (2005) is the U.S. Supreme Court decision allowing the display of the Ten Commandments on public property despite a challenge based on the Establishment Clause. It may reflect a slowing in the momentum towards censoring religious symbols from public life.

A plurality of the Supreme Court held that displays having both historical and religious significance are not in violation of the Establishment Clause. Chief Justice William Rehnquist wrote the lead opinion, and Justice Stephen Breyer provided the swing fifth vote in this 5-4 defeat for those hostile to Judeo-Christian values. 125 S. Ct. 2854 (2005).