County board votes to temporarily cover 'Keep God's Commandments' inscription inside courthouse

A country board of supervisors has agreed to temporarily cover a painted inscription that reads "Keep God's Commandments" inside a local circuit courthouse in Virginia following a complaint from a prominent atheist group.

The Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) sent a letter to the Nelson County Board of Supervisors, urging the officials to conceal the message that has been painted onto a horizontal structure inside the Nelson County Courthouse.

According to Nelson County Times, the lettering was uncovered in late winter to early spring during ongoing renovations to the courtroom, which dates back to 1810 and was the first of the four buildings that are currently part of the courthouse complex.

The FFRF decided to send the complaint letter to the county board after learning that the officials might want to keep the message.

"While the original 'Keep God's Commandments' lettering may date to the 19th century, that does not absolve the County from taking actions today that violate the Establishment Clause," the organization wrote.

"Notably, it was reported that restoration work on the courthouse involved 'carefully and painstakingly' removing old paint in order to uncover the lettering and some county supervisors have expressed an interest in keeping the religious message. Such efforts to display a religious message are not akin to retaining a long-standing monument," it continued.

The atheist group argued that the message would create the impression of government endorsement of religion and could also affect the ability for residents to obtain a fair trial.

Four citizens reportedly came at a meeting last week to urge the board to keep the display. Most of the board said that they would personally prefer to keep the message uncovered, but they expressed concern that the FFRF might follow-up their complaint with a lawsuit. The board stated that the decision whether to keep or to conceal the lettering should be left in the hands of Judge Michael Garrett, who presides over the cases at the courthouse.

Larry Saunders, the sole board member who voted against covering up the message, said that the county should be more concerned about giving an account to the "big Judge."

"I'm in favor of restoring it and being proud of it. I know I'll be outvoted, but ... I'm proud to say that I'm in favor of keeping it uncovered," he said, according to Christian News Network.

The FFRF, which boasts of more than 600 members in Virginia, commended the county board for its decision to cover up the lettering. FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor called on the board of supervisors to make the move permanent.