Legislation allowing for a Ten Commandments Monument to be placed on Oklahoma State Capitol grounds will hold up to judicial review, according to state Rep. Mike Ritze.

Ritze said constituents have been concerned about the monument since hearing about the Green vs. Haskell County decision Monday at the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver. The court unanimously ruled the Haskell County monument unconstitutional, leaving constituents to wonder what the fate will be for the monument that will be placed on state Capitol grounds.

 

“I took great care to ensure my legislation falls in line with Supreme Court rulings that have allowed for several monuments in the U.S. to remain,” Ritze, R-Broken Arrow, said. “I understand that the decision regarding the Haskell County monument is disheartening, but I would like to assure my constituents that it does not affect the monument at the Capitol. Ritze said that the monument is meant to recognize the historical foundation the Ten Commandments have in modern law.

 

“This monument recognizes its important role in the historical foundation of modern law,” Ritze said. “Acknowledgements of the role played by the Ten Commandments in our nation’s heritage are common throughout America and Oklahoma deserves a place alongside the other states in the preservation of that heritage.”