Blog from the Capital

The battle over the constitutionality of a California cross memorial has been going on for nearly 20 years. It has outlasted its original plaintiff, and has continues despite efforts of the federal government to sidestep the judicial process by taking over the land as a federal war memorial. The San Diego Union-Tribune explains the current question, heard yesterday by District Judge Larry Burns.

Cross supporters had hoped that such a transfer would allow the cross to remain on the property and that the state constitutional issue would become moot.

Almost before the ink was dry, a new lawsuit challenging the transfer to the federal government and the presence of the cross on federal land was filed in federal court.
...
At yesterday's hearing, the plaintiffs argued that the cross is a clear religious symbol and is not simply one element in a larger, secular war memorial to honor dead veterans, as cross supporters maintain.

Having argued over this site since 1989, surely both sides agree on something Judge Burns said during yesterday's hearing..."I don't have any illusions I'm going to be the last word on this."