The United States Supreme Court ruled in two controversial but unnecessary cases Monday, adding a new chapter to the long-standing debate of the First Amendment clause of separation of church and state.

The court made official decisions on two separate issues by saying displays depicting the Ten Commandments are constitutional in some cases but not in others. Unfortunately, their ambiguity made future debate and more wasted time on the issue likely.

The formula they devised to decide these specific cases was whether or not the displays had a religious purpose or intent behind them.

“The court has found no single mechanical formula that can accurately draw the constitutional line in every case,” said Justice Stephen G. Breyer in an Associated Press report following the decisions.

In the 5-4 ruling, the Court declared the displaying of statues depicting the Ten Commandments inside two Kentucky courthouses was unconstitutional on the grounds that the intent of the display had a religious purpose behind it, rather than intending to support America’s legal and religious history.

In another 5-4 ruling, the Court allowed a 6-foot granite monument, one of 17 historical displays on the 22-acre lot of the Texas state capitol, to remain because it was determined to be a fitting tribute to such history.

The decisions also were the Court’s first major statement on the issue since 1980, when justices barred such displays in public schools.

Separation of church and state is an important, fundamental issue and right that should be maintained and protected by the Constitution.

Although the justices met with good intentions, the cases themselves should never have been allowed to drag on for as long as they did and the Court’s time should have been better spent deciding other issues.