Attorney General Liz Merrill’s office has been quite active recently, prompting a check-in. The conversation primarily focused on the 10 Commandments case, but also touched on the Bob Dean case. Nursing home owner Bob Dean faced criticism for not receiving jail time despite the death of 15 people under his care. Merrill expressed disappointment, believing the circumstances warranted jail time, highlighting the criminal negligence and the impact on the victims’ families.
The discussion then shifted to the 10 Commandments law, passed in the legislative session and signed by the governor, which is now in the courts. Merrill clarified that the law has not been blocked or held up, but the implementation process takes time. The goal is to avoid lawsuits against school boards by providing careful guidance on implementing the law constitutionally. The law’s compliance deadline is January 1st of the following year, with a pause on implementation until mid-November.
Merrill emphasized that only the school boards involved in the current court discussions are affected, while others can proceed as they wish. The Attorney General’s office plans to file a brief to illustrate how the law can be applied constitutionally, offering school boards options for compliance.
The conversation concluded with an explanation of the Attorney General’s role in defending the constitutionality of the statute. When a law’s constitutionality is challenged, the Attorney General’s office steps in to defend it. In this case, school boards are being sued because they are responsible for posting the 10 Commandments, making them the target of the lawsuits. Merrill’s office is prepared to defend the law and ensure its proper implementation.