Martin Luther King Jr's. Bible has a place with bequest, judge says

 

The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial is pictured during a steady rain in Washington

The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial is pictured during a steady rain in Washington January 18, 2015. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

ATLANTA (Reuters) - The Bible that Martin Luther King Jr. carried during the civil rights movement in the 1960s belongs to his estate which voted in 2014 to sell the heirloom against the wishes of his daughter, said a court ruling that could now lead to its sale.

A trial was still scheduled to begin on August 15 to settle the question of who owns the slain civil rights leader's 1964 Nobel Peace Prize medal, which the estate also voted to sell, according to court records.

The estate is controlled by King's three surviving children, Bernice and her two brothers, Dexter and Martin Luther King III.

There have been years of legal disputes among King's heirs.

King was assassinated in 1968 by a white supremacist in Memphis, Tennessee. The United States marked the 30th anniversary of the U.S. holiday commemorating King in January with speeches, tributes, concerts and parades.

The battle over his possessions plays out as protesters and activists hold marches and rallies across the United States in response to a series of high-profile killings of black men by police, at times invoking King's message of peaceful resistance that was the hallmark of his efforts in the 1960s.

In 2014, the estate sued Bernice after she refused to turn over the Bible and medal to the estate after her brothers voted 2-1 to sell both items.

Bernice voted against selling the medal and holy book, calling them "sacred" to her family.

The Bible was used by President Barack Obama during his second inauguration.

Fulton County Superior Court judge Robert McBurney ruled on June 30 that the Bible belongs to the estate but did not rule on the medal, court records show. The ruling was reported in local media on Monday.

On the question of who owns the bible, "there is no genuine issue of material fact," McBurney wrote. However, ownership of on the Nobel medal "must be resolved by a fact-finder at trial," the judge wrote.

The case has been in mediation, with former President Jimmy Carter participating, but "such a settlement has, so far, eluded the parties," McBurney said in his ruling.

Attorneys for the parties in the lawsuit could not be reached for comment on Monday.

In early 2014, McBurney ordered Bernice King to turn over the Bible and medal so that they could be preserved in a safe deposit box pending the outcome of the lawsuit.

In its lawsuit against Bernice King, the estate said she signed a 1995 agreement giving control of King's possessions to the estate.

"While I love my brothers dearly, this latest decision by them is extremely troubling," Bernice said in a statement after the lawsuit was filed. "Our Father MUST be turning in his grave."

The Martin Luther King Jr. Remembrance is imagined amid an unfaltering precipitation in Washington

The Martin Luther King Jr. Remembrance is imagined amid an unfaltering precipitation in Washington January 18, 2015. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

ATLANTA (Reuters) - The Bible that Martin Luther King Jr. conveyed amid the social liberties development in the 1960s has a place with his bequest which voted in 2014 to offer the treasure against the desires of his little girl, said a court deciding that could now prompt its deal.

A trial was still booked to start on August 15 to settle the topic of who possesses the killed social liberties pioneer's 1964 Nobel Peace Prize decoration, which the bequest additionally voted to offer, as indicated by court records.

The domain is controlled by King's three surviving kids, Bernice and her two siblings, Dexter and Martin Luther King III.

There have been years of lawful debate among King's beneficiaries.

Lord was killed in 1968 by a white supremacist in Memphis, Tennessee. The United States denoted the 30th commemoration of the U.S. occasion remembering King in January with discourses, tributes, shows and parades.

The fight over his belonging plays out as dissidents and activists hold walks and encourages over the United States in light of a progression of prominent killings of dark men by police, now and again summoning King's message of quiet resistance that was the sign of his endeavors in the 1960s.

In 2014, the domain sued Bernice after she declined to turn over the Bible and award to the bequest after her siblings voted 2-1 to offer both things.

Bernice voted against offering the award and heavenly book, calling them "consecrated" to her family.

The Bible was utilized by President Barack Obama amid his second introduction.

Fulton County Superior Court judge Robert McBurney decided on June 30 that the Bible has a place with the domain yet did not control on the award, court records appear. The decision was accounted for in neighborhood media on Monday.

On the subject of who claims the book of scriptures, "there is no bona fide issue of material truth," McBurney composed. Be that as it may, responsibility for the Nobel decoration "must be determined by an actuality discoverer at trial," the judge composed.

The case has been in intercession, with previous President Jimmy Carter partaking, however "such a settlement has, in this way, evaded the gatherings," McBurney said in his decision.

Lawyers for the gatherings in the claim couldn't be gone after remark on Monday.

In mid 2014, McBurney requested Bernice King to turn over the Bible and decoration with the goal that they could be safeguarded in a protected store box pending the result of the claim.

In its claim against Bernice King, the bequest said she consented to a 1995 arrangement giving control of King's belonging to the domain.

"While I adore my siblings beyond all doubt, this most recent choice by them is to a great degree disturbing," Bernice said in an announcement after the claim was documented. "Our Father MUST turn in his grave."