Illinois Law Firm Fights Ticket for ‘Justice’ Biblical Verse Sign

Legal Advertising

Illinois Law Firm Fights Ticket for ‘Justice’ Biblical Verse Sign

Posted Sep 22, 2008, 04:50 pm CST
By Martha Neil

A lawyer and Illinois state representative has filed new court papers in McHenry County, on the outskirts of the Chicago suburbs, for citing his law firm over a sign that quotes a Biblical verse.

The sign over the front doors at Franks Gerkin & McKenna, in Marengo, says "Justice, Justice, Shalt Thou Pursue," reports the Daily Herald. And trying to prevent the firm from posting it is a violation of First Amendment rights, contends state Rep. Jack Franks, a Democrat from Woodstock.

The court filing he made today also contends that the ordinance under which the law firm was cited is too vague to be enforceable, the newspaper notes.

Additionally, Franks is contending that the Deuteronomy verse is a statement of ethical principles, not an actual sign, notes another article, in the Northwest Herald. Plus, he argues, it is grandfathered as a prior nonconforming legal use.

Barbara Wheeler, who chairs the McHenry County Board's planning and development committee, welcomed the challenge to the sign ordinance, saying that it is "part of the process," the Daily Herald reports.

Updated at 10:40 a.m. on Sept. 23, 2008 to include Northwest Herald coverage.

Comments

Report Abuse

Posted by Kristin - 2 months, 1 week, 3 days, 17 hours, 58 minutes ago

It would be nice if you would actually give us the language of the ordinance. This article is extremely vague.
Posted by John Bramfeld - 2 months, 1 week, 3 days, 17 hours, 51 minutes ago

Plus, we have to infer that it is an ordinance violation. How about a little care in writing.
Posted by Dickie B. - 2 months, 1 week, 3 days, 17 hours, 22 minutes ago

is it possible that ABA Journal reporters assume that their readers have all attended law school?
Posted by Jerry - 2 months, 1 week, 3 days, 16 hours, 7 minutes ago

Even with a law school education, I found this article glaring incomplete. Bah.
Posted by associate - 2 months, 1 week, 2 days, 10 hours, 25 minutes ago

I must have missed the class where we memorized all of the city ordinances for all of the 10 bazillion or how many ever cities we have here.

Commenting has expired on this post.

ABA Journal - Law News Now

Legal Advertising