School Jesus Portrait Case Settled

The Columbus Dispatch reports today that an Ohio federal district court has accepted a settlement in Doe v. Jackson City School District. The suit (see prior posting) was an Establishment Clause challenge to a portrait of Jesus displayed on an entrance wall at a Jackson, Ohio Middle School. In April, the school had agreed to take down the picture, but plaintiffs alleged that it was still in view of those entering an art-room storage area. Under the settlement, the school board has agreed to keep the picture off of school district property.  It is also paying $3000 damages to each of the 5 anonymous plaintiffs, and $80,000 in attorneys' fees to the ACLU and Freedom From Religion Foundation.