SAN FRANCISCO — The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that the Mount Soledad Cross in La Jolla is unconstitutional because its location on public land sends the message of the government favoring one religion over others. The opinion sends back to the District Court the question of how to remedy this constitutional infringement. Here is a copy of the court’s opinion in the case which was brought by the Jewish War Veterans.
The decision was promptly condemned by the conservative American Center for Law and Justice as a “slap in the face” to other veterans. At the base of the cross has been constructed walls of memorial plaques for veterans.