Church and state.

Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral argument in Town of Greece, N.Y., v. Galloway, about what I thought was a long resolved issue. The U.S. court of appeals had ruled that the town violated the First Amendment insistence on separation of church and state, because of the community's use of an opening prayer at legislative meetings. That was said to have been unconstitutional under the circumstances.

My hometown city commission opens most sessions with an invocation by an invited clergyman or clergywoman. I am not certain, but I believe non-Christians at times have been selected for that honor. I had not heard many complaints about the practice for years.

However, I write that only as a preamble to my primary concern--that is, the separation of church and state as it is reflected in the Florida judicial system.

As a Jew, from time to time, I have been uncomfortable in the Florida judicial system. The first time I can recall such a reaction was upon approaching the closed door to the hearing room where I was about to present an argument. The door contained what I regarded as Christmas decorations, e.g., an angel, a Santa Claus, and other holiday symbols.

Last month, I was reminded of the reason for my discomfort by a syndicated column written by Rabbi Mark Gelman. Rabbi Gelman was writing about Halloween as a secular holiday to be enjoyed by all. But in that column he contrasted that day with Christmas. To Rabbi Gelman, Christmas is a religious holiday, a Christian holiday. He knows some Jews place Christmas trees in their homes. He is not one of them.

But that...