Jesus' picture may stay at New Orleans courthouse

Jesus' picture may stay at New Orleans courthouse

A picture of Jesus does not violate the U.S. constitution's separation of church and state and though can remain on the wall at a south Louisiana courthouse.

U.S. District Judge Ivan Lemelle said he would have ordered the Jesus picture removed had it remained prominently on display by itself in the lobby of Slidell's city courthouse. The American Civil Liberties had gone to court asking for its removal.

"As much as we might like the image, I might make a copy and frame it in my house," Lemelle said. "But I'm not going to display it in my courtroom" or in the courthouse lobby.

The display now has 15 pictures figures in legal history, including Muhammad.

Slidell is across Lake Pontchartrain from New Orleans.