Barrow officials vote to continue Commandments fight

[Khephra]

WINDER, Ga. - The legal battle to keep a framed copy of the Ten Commandments in the Barrow County courthouse will continue after officials agreed Monday to foot the legal costs until private funds can be raised.

Barrow County commissioners called a meeting to discuss whether to drop its case against the American Civil Liberties Union, which sued the county last year claiming the marker infringes on constitutional rights to be free from government-sponsored religion.

Commission Chairman Doug Garrison has said the county, which has struggled in recent months to keep its legal battle afloat, currently owes $81,000 to its attorney, Herb Titus.

Officials have said they oppose dipping into county coffers to pay the legal costs. The money spent so far has all come from donations from Ten Commandment-Georgia Inc., a local fund-raising group organized by the Rev. Jodi Hice, pastor of Bethlehem First Baptist Church.

http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/mld/ledgerenquirer/news/local/9894351.htm