A federal appeals court upheld a ruling that banned two counties in Kentucky from including a framed copy of the Ten Commandments in a display in their courthouses featuring other historic documents.

In a 2-1 ruling Wednesday, the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati, Ohio ruled that the permanent injunction against McCreary and Pulaski counties from showing the display can remain in place.

The legal battle over the displays, known as the "Foundations of American Law and Government" has waged since 2005. The display included the Bill of Rights, Magna Carta and Star Spangled Banner.

The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the ban in 2005, saying the display had a predominantly religious purpose. However, it also ruled that religious materials could be allowed as part of an educational or historical display.

The high court sent the case back to a federal district court in Kentucky for more hearings after the counties changed their displays. In 2008, a federal judge issued a permanent injunction against the counties.