SAMUEL L. NEAL, JR.

County Judge

FEBRUARY 15,2017

Claudia Lobell
Chief Executive
claudia.1obeI1enuecesco.com
VIA EMAIL: ISMITH C AU.ORG &
VIA CERTIFIED MAIL RRR
Christopher Boyce, E.M.C.
(361) 888-0513
chiistopher.boyce@nuecesco.com Americans United for Separation of Church and State
1310 L Street NW, Suite 200
Monica Perez Washington D.C. 20005
Executive Secretary
monica. perez I @ nue Ce SC 0 .Com 202 466 3234
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Attn: Mr. Richard B. Katskee & Mr. Jan Smith

Re: Nueces County Ten Commandments Monument

Gentlemen:

We are in receipt and have reviewed your letter requesting removal of the
Ten Commandments monument on the grounds of the Nueces County
Courthouse. This reply is being made to inform you that Nueces County does
not intend to remove the monument in response to your request.

This decision is based upon the similarities to the case cited in your letter,
Van Orden v. Perry. You will find attached to this letter two pictures of
monuments featuring the Ten Commandments. One of the pictures is of the
monument outside of the Texas State Capitol, and the other picture is of the
monument outside the Nueces County Courthouse. You will notice that the
monuments are identical in every respect except the year on the face of each
monument. It is understood that there are several cases in which the display
of the Ten Commandments was found to be in violation of the Establishment
Clause, but in this instance the nature of the display is analogous to the
display outside of the Texas State Capitol and, therefore, not in violation of
the Establishment Clause.

Regards,

"
Samuel L. Neal
Nueces County Judge

Nueces County Courthouse 901 Leopard Street, Room 303 Corpus Christi, Texas 78401-3697 (361) 888-0444 FAX (361) 888-0445