AP, June 23, 2003
http://www.4utah.com/
(Salt Lake City) — Now that the U-S Supreme Court has turned away a Mormon church challenge to the Main Street ruling, some leaders in the dispute say there’s more legal action on the way.
The Supreme Court today let stand a Tenth Circuit Court ruling which says The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints can’t create a “First Amendment-free zone” on the Main Street Plaza.
Mayor Rocky Anderson short-circuited that ruling by striking an agreement to give away the public easement on Main Street in exchange for church-owned land on the west side.
Mark Lopez of the A-C-L-U says Salt Lake City has done the unthinkable by giving away the public’s interest in the block of Main Street. Victorious in the first round of lawsuits, the A-C-L-U says it will likely pursue a challenge of the land swap.
Mormon church attorney Von Keetch says they’re ready for the challenge and will defend their property rights.