10 Commandments Suit Begins With Skirmishes Over Allowing "John Doe" Plaintiffs

As previously reported, the ACLU of Virginia last month filed suit in federal district court on behalf of a high school student and the student's parent challenging the posting of a Ten Commandments display in Giles County, Virginia's Narrows High School. Now, in preliminary skirmishing in the case, lawyers representing the school board have filed an objection to plaintiffs in the lawsuit being identified only as Doe 1 and Doe 2.  The Roanoke Times reported last week that the school board contends it needs to know the identity of plaintiff so it can determine whether the student in fact attends Narrows High School and whether he or she regularly passes by the Ten Commandments display. Plaintiffs' lawyers say that the pseudonyms are necessary to prevent harassment of the plaintiffs.