The Winston Salem-Journal reports that 4 of 7 county commissioners are already on record supporting an appeal of last week's 4th Circuit decision ruling their invocation policy unconstitutional. One consideration for the group? The cost:
The county has the option of asking the entire 4th Circuit within 14 days for a rehearing of the case, or it can petition for appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court within 90 days. However, there's no guarantee that either method will succeed in gaining a hearing for an appeal….
"I will possibly vote to appeal if there is no county money (spent)," Witherspoon said, adding that he believes the board should also do more for the poor than it has done.
"Our policies need to match up, not just prayer," Witherspoon said.
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Plyler, a moderate Republican who had called the defense of sectarian prayer unwinnable, replaced Whiteheart in 2008. Plyler supported an appeal, however, after a local group pledged $300,000 to pay the county's legal costs. The ADF won't pay the legal fees of the other side if the county ultimately loses in court.
