Will we get to meet 'Jane Doe'?

A federal judge has given the Pittsylvania County woman behind the ACLU’s lawsuit against the board of supervisors 30 days to reveal her name.

“We’re reviewing the situation carefully and considering what course of action to take,” said ACLU attorney Rebecca Glenberg. “It’s her decision to make.”

That decision could determine whether “Jane Doe” continues her lawsuit or drops the case.

“Indeed, some citizens of Pittsylvania County have voiced criticism of this lawsuit in a very public manner, and it is likely that such criticism will continue as this case progresses,” U.S.

District Judge Michael F. Urbanski wrote in his opinion. “Certainly, on some level, plaintiff seeks to shield herself from opposition to and disapproval of her position in this case, as expressed by certain members of her community.”

We simply don’t know— and can’t predict— what will happen to this woman if or when her name is revealed. We do agree with Urbanski that this issue of the Board of Supervisors saying sectarian prayers before the start of public meetings has sparked controversy and anger among many local people.

Those people frequently express their views on these pages that America has taken a wrong turn precisely because of lawsuits like the one brought by Jane Doe, and that a core solution to our problems lies not in narrowing religion and religious expression in public life, but by expanding it.

That said, it is one thing to be the subject of a strongly worded letter to the editor, it’s quite another to suffer real consequences as a result of getting the ACLU to file a lawsuit against the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors.

No one can predict how every single person opposed to this lawsuit, the ACLU and Jane Doe will react if they finally learn her name.

Will Jane Doe be subjected to verbal taunts? Threats of violence? Actual violence?

Property theft and vandalism? Economic sanctions?

We just don’t know.

As for Urbanski, he wrote:“While citizens of Pittsylvania County and members of the community at large are free to express their opinions on this case, threatening or intimidating acts directed against anyone involved in this lawsuit will not be tolerated or condoned by inaction. Individuals that become aware of such conduct should immediately notify the court or the United States Attorney for theWestern District of Virginia.”

We’re not at that stage, and we may never get there— even if Jane Doe eventually reveals her identity. It’s one thing to say that people are angry about this lawsuit, but quite another for even one of them to do something awful.