Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin said that the state's controversial Ten Commandments monument will stay put in spite of an Oklahoma Supreme Court ruling that ordered its removal from the state capital grounds, according to The Washington Post.
Fallin said in a statement issued on Tuesday that the "court got it wrong" adding that the monument will remain in place while the state appeals the decision of Oklahoma's highest court and legislators consider amendments to the constitution.
The state Supreme Court handed down a 7-2 decision last week to remove the statue because it was in violation of Oklahoma's constitution.
Article II, Section 5 of the state's constitution reads "No public money or property shall ever be appropriated, applied, donated, or used, directly or indirectly, for the use, benefit, or support of any sect, church, denomination, or system of religion, or for the use, benefit, or support of any priest, preacher, minister, or other religious teacher or dignitary, or sectarian institution as such," Fox News reported.
"Oklahoma is a state where we respect the rule of law, and we will not ignore the state courts or their decisions. However, we are also a state with three co-equal branches of government," Fallin said in a statement, according to The Huffington Post.
"At this time, Attorney General Scott Pruitt, with my support, has filed a petition requesting a rehearing of the Ten Commandments case. Additionally, our Legislature has signaled its support for pursuing changes to our state Constitution that will make it clear the Ten Commandments monument is legally permissible," she added. "If legislative efforts are successful, the people of Oklahoma will get to vote on the issue."
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which filed legal papers challenging the statue and pursued it to the state Supreme Court, disregarded Fallin's comments. Daniel Mach, director of the ACLU's Program on Freedom of Religion and Belief
Brady Henderson, legal director of ACLU in Oklahoma said if Fallin defies the decision of the court, it would lead to "chaos."
"She hasn't violated her oath yet, but she has made a statement that she's willing to do so," Henderson said. "The highest elected official in the state is essentially saying, 'I am willing to break the law.' My hope is very much that this is political grandstanding."
In order to go against the court, Fallin would have to issue an executive order, because the Capitol Preservation Commission is in charge of the capitol grounds, and the lawsuit concerned the commission, not the governor's office or the state legislature, Henderson explained.
