Chattanooga, Tenn. — County commissioners in Chattanooga, Tenn., who unsuccessfully worked to display plaques of the Ten Commandments in local court buildings have voted to sell the plaques in order to pay their lawyers.
The Hamilton County commissioners decided Jan. 8 to seek bids of at least $2,000 each for the plaques after a federal judge ordered their removal, the Associated Press reported.
The proceeds will be used to pay remaining legal bills from the commission’s court fight against the American Civil Liberties Union, said Commissioner Curtis Adams, who voted in favor of the sale.
Adams said an auction to determine the highest bidder will permit commissioners to keep a pledge that no taxpayer money would be spent to pay lawyers. Private donors have provided about $70,000 for the legal fees and about $7,000 remained unpaid, he said.
Commission Chairman Richard Casavant voted against seeking bids and cast the lone vote against displaying the Ten Commandments in county court buildings in September 2001.
He said the plaques are county property and selling them — even if they can’t be displayed — means the county would be paying the legal costs.
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