Federal Judge Declares Christian License Plates Unconstitutional

The State reports that a "federal judge ruled Tuesday that South Carolina can't issue license plates showing the image of a cross in front of a stained glass window along with the phrase 'I Believe.'... U.S. District Judge Cameron Currie's ruling said the license plate was unconstitutional because it violates the First Amendment ban on establishment of religion by government. The fight over the plates started shortly after Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer helped push the legislation through in 2008. Groups including Americans United for Separation of Church and State and American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee challenged the state's ability to put a religious message on a state license tag... Her ruling singled out Bauer after he pushed a tag Christian advocates sought in Florida, but legislators there did not approve. Bauer wanted to accomplish in South Carolina what had been unsuccessful in Florida, Currie wrote: To 'gain legislative approval of a specialty plate promoting the majority religion: Christianity. Whether motivated by sincerely held Christian beliefs or an effort to purchase political capital with religious coin, the result is the same. The statute is clearly unconstitutional and defense of its implementation has embroiled the state in unnecessary (and expensive) litigation.' Bauer said he wasn't surprised by the ruling and would like to see it appealed. 'I don't expect anything different from a liberal judge who was appointed by Bill Clinton,' Bauer said. 'If she wants to single me out, so be it.' Bauer said it 'once again shows how liberal judges are not just interpreting the law but making legislation.'" Tweet