Another Defeat for the Principle of Secularism: Recent Developments on the Display of the Crucifix in Italian Courtrooms

Abstract

The Italian Court of Cassation recently sanctioned the dismissal of a judge who refused to hold hearings due to the presence of crucifixes in the courtrooms. This ruling (taken together with the ruling of the Grand Chamber in Lautsi) marks a significant defeat for the principle of state secularism.