The Ten Commandments Case Records, 1970, 1978-1980
Collection Overview
Title: The Ten Commandments Case Records, 1970, 1978-1980
Predominant Dates:1978-1980
ID: OGLMC572
Extent: 0.5 Linear Feet
Date Acquired: 03/00/1980
Subjects: Education, Grand Forks - Education, Legal
Languages: English
Abstract
Scope and Contents of the Materials
Collection Historical Note
Chapter 247 of the Laws Passed at the Twentieth Session of Legislative Assembly of the State of North Dakota (1927) directed that placards of the Ten Commandments be posted in the classrooms of state supported schools. The law was ignored until 1979, when a Grand Forks resident, Wilma Belcourt, brought it to the attention of the school officials in Grand Forks, whom subsequently ordered the commandments to be posted.
A lawsuit was then brought by Benjamin Ring, Cynthia Hoekstra, James McKenzie and George Frein, claiming that the 1927 law violated the First and Fourth Amendments of the United States Constitution by sanctioning a specific religion. The plaintiffs were represented by Robert Vogel, a University of North Dakota law professor and former justice of the North Dakota Supreme Court, and Stephen Pevar of the American Civil Liberties Union. The Grand Forks School Board was represented by the North Dakota Office of Attorney General. The case was heard in United States District Court in Grand Forks by Judge Paul Benson.
A judgment in favor of the plaintiffs was handed down by Judge Benson on January 28, 1980. Both the Grand Forks School Board and the Attorney General decided not to appeal the ruling.
Subject/Index Terms
Administrative Information
Repository: Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections
Access Restrictions: Open for inspection under the rules and regulations of the Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections.
Acquisition Source: Robert Vogel, Grand Forks, North Dakota
Acquisition Method: Donation; Acc. #80-652
Original/Copies Note: The original documents were loaned for duplication purposes by Robert Vogel.
Related Materials:
OGLMC 780, Wilma Belcourt Papers
OGLMC 1051, Robert Vogel Papers
Preferred Citation: (Description of Item). The Ten Commandments Case Records. OGLMC 572, Box #, Folder #. Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections, Chester Fritz Library, University of North Dakota.
Finding Aid Revision History: Finding aid migrated to Archon in July 2012.
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Box:
[Box 1],
[All]
- Box 1
- Folder 1: General Correspondence, 1970, February 1979 - February 1980
- Folder 2: Correspondence: Robert Vogel, March 1979 - February 1980
- Folder 3: Correspondence: Stephen Pevar, August 1979 - December 1979
- Folder 4: Correspondence: Cletus Schmidt, August 1979
- Folder 5: Correspondence: Ralph Hanson, October 1979 - November 1979
- Folder 6: Correspondence: Murray Sagsveen, October 1979
- Folder 7: Affidavit of James McKenzie, Plaintiff
- Folder 8: Affidavit of George Frein, Plaintiff
- Folder 9: Affidavit of Benjamin Ring, Plaintiff
- Folder 10: Affidavit of Cynthia Hoekstra, Plaintiff
- Folder 11: Affidavit of M. F. Peterson (former North Dakota Superintendent of Public Instruction), and Howard Snortland (current North Dakota Superintendent of Public Instruction), Defendant
- Folder 12: Preliminary Statement (Complaint): Benjamin A. Ring, et al, vs. Grand Forks Public School District #1, July 1979
- Folder 13: Supplementary Trial Brief: Benjamin A. Ring, et al, vs. Grand Forks Public School District #1, undated
- Folder 14: Summons: Benjamin A. Ring, et al, vs. Grand Forks Public School District #1, July 1979
- Folder 15: Summary of Plaintiffs' Argument (Plaintiffs Brief), Benjamin A. Ring, et al, vs. Grand Forks Public School District #1, October 2, 1979
- Folder 16: Motion of the American Jewish Congress, the Synagogue Council of America, and the National Jewish Community Relations Advisory Council for Leave to File Brief Amid Curiae (Friends of the Court), Benjamin A. Ring, et al, vs. Grand Forks Public School District #1, October 23, 1979
- Folder 17: Memorandum In Support of Defendant - Interveners' Motion, Benjamin A. Ring, et al, vs. Grand Forks Public School District #1, November 5, 1979
- Folder 18: Judgment, Benjamin A. Ring, et al, vs. Grand Forks Public School District #1, January 28, 1980
- Folder 19: Plaintiffs’ Brief, Reply, Complaints, and Preliminary Injunction, Roger R. Foley et al. vs. Sioux Falls School District, 1978
- Folder 20: Motion of the Unitarian Universalist Association to Participate Amici Curiae, Roger R. Foley et al. vs. Sioux Falls School District, May 17, 1979
- Folder 21: Opinion, Judgements, and Correspondence, Syndell Store et al. vs. James B. Graham (Kentucky), 1978
- Folder 22: Supplementary Materials from Robert Vogel
- Folder 1: General Correspondence, 1970, February 1979 - February 1980
Browse by Box:
[Box 1],
[All]