McCreary County, Kentucky v. American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky

**What Happened:** McCreary County, Kentucky posted displays of the Ten Commandments in its courthouse. The American Civil Liberties Union challenged this, arguing that a government employer cannot display religious materials in public workplaces because it violates the constitutional separation of church and state. **What the Court Decided:** The Supreme Court ruled against McCreary County in 2005. The Court found that the county's primary purpose for displaying the Ten Commandments was religious, which violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. Government employers cannot promote religion in their workplaces. **Why This Matters for Workers:** This decision protects employees who work for government agencies, schools, and other public employers from being subjected to religious displays at work. Workers have the right to a workplace free from government-sponsored religious messaging, regardless of their own beliefs. The ruling reinforces that public employers must remain neutral on religious matters and cannot create an environment that favors one religion over others. This helps ensure all government workers feel welcome and respected, regardless of their faith or lack thereof.