Gov. Braun, AG Rokita ask Federal Court to lift 20-year ban on Historical Monument at Indiana Statehouse

Attorney General Todd Rokita and Governor Mike Braun announced last week that Indiana has filed a motion in federal court asking to remove a more than 20-year-old injunction that blocks the placement of a donated historical monument on the Indiana Statehouse grounds.

The motion, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana in Indianapolis, seeks relief under a federal rule that allows courts to lift old orders when the law has significantly changed.

The monument — a gift from the Indiana Limestone Institute — displays the Ten Commandments on one large side, the Bill of Rights on the opposite side, and the Preamble to the Indiana Constitution on the smaller sides. A similar monument stood peacefully on the Statehouse lawn for over 30 years until it was vandalized in 1991.

“The Statehouse grounds feature many monuments and markers celebrating Indiana’s and America’s heritage,” Attorney General Todd Rokita said. “This monument belongs among them as a reminder of core principles that have guided our nation. After all these years, it’s time to place this historical recognition where Hoosiers and visitors can appreciate its significance in our common story.”

The original injunction was based on a Supreme Court test from 1971 that has since been abrogated. Recent high-court decisions, including one upholding a Ten Commandments display at the Texas Capitol, now evaluate such monuments based on America’s long-standing history and traditions rather than the old standard. 

“This monument reflects foundational texts that have shaped our Nation’s laws, liberties, and civic life for generations,” Governor Mike Braun said. “Given the clear shift in constitutional law and the long history of similar displays across the country, we ask the court to lift this outdated injunction. Restoring this historical monument is about honoring our heritage and who we are as Hoosiers.

The monument remains in Bedford, Indiana, and would be placed near its original intended location if the court grants the motion. 

Read the brief here.