In a move that's sparked praise and contention, Rockwall County Commissioners Court gave the green light for a Ten Commandments monument to stand on the historic courthouse grounds, aligning with the precedent set by the U.S. Supreme Court in the 2005 Van Orden v. Perry case. Precinct 3 Commissioner Lorne Liechty proposed the monument and gained unanimous approval on Tuesday, a detail brought to light by Rockwall County's official announcement.
The planned monument echoes one already emplaced on Texas State Capitol grounds. Like the Capitol's version, this one will not utilize taxpayer dollars for its construction, with private donations footing the bill. This arrangement abides by stipulations in the Commissioners Court's resolution, which can be fully scanned on the county's news release. This information holds significance in that it affirms the local government's commitment to upholding certain historical and moral reflections they deem vital to the community's, and ostensibly the nation's, legal heritage.
The resolution passed by the Commissioners Court doesn't avoid evoking the supposed role of the Ten Commandments in shaping not just Rockwall County's, but America's legal framework. This claim and the resolution's text quote the ancient directives verbatim, thereby foregrounding a presumed divine influence over the civic rights and privileges enjoyed in present-day Rockwall, Texas, and beyond.
