The controversy over Roy Moore's Ten Commandments monument and defiance of a court order to remove the monument may not be over, although the former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice was removed from office by a unanimous decision Thursday by the Alabama Court of Judiciary.

Moore may still appeal the decision of the court, in which he has 30 days to do so. If an appeal is made, the state Supreme Court could chose whether or not to hear it.

The Hunstville Times reported Moore will make an announcement next week and make a statement that "could alter the course of this country," and until then, what future plans Moore has in mind remain a mystery.

"I don't think we've seen the last of him," Huntsville attorney Mark McDaniel told the Times. "He'll run for something. The people will ultimately decide his fate in the political arena."

Gov. Bob Riley will pick Moore's successor. But a replacement will not be decided until Moore's decision of whether or not to appeal is reached, according to Riley spokesman John Matson.

While Alabamians are awaiting Moore's next move, numerous heated debates have sparked as a result to his removal from office. Several residents in Covington County have weighed their opinions on the Court of Judiciary's ruling.

"If he never gets back into office, I commend him for doing something good," Glinda Robbins, of Andalusia said about the ex-Chief Justice. "The Ten Commandments made people stop and think about what they were doing, if they were doing something wrong."

Although Sabrina Lee, also of Andalusia, agreed with Robbins' opinion on the importance of the Ten Commandments, she said Moore shouldn't have placed the monument in the rotunda of the Judiciary building in Montgomery nearly two years ago without consulting with others first.

"Just because he is in office doesn't mean he had the right to place the monument in the building without approval," Lee said. "He should have OK'd it with everybody before placing it there, because everybody should have input. That is why we vote. It wasn't his choice, and it wasn't his right. He should have come to an agreement with all the persons in the building.

"But the Ten Commandments are a good thing, because it is the word of God" she continued. "They should be everywhere."

Some citizens support Moore 100 percent in his stance on the monument.

"He did the right thing, because God is first in everything," Lewis Owens, of Florala said. "We put the Ten Command-ments in courthouses and schools, but we've gotten away from free speech, especially one based on God."

Others think Moore was dealt a bad hand in his removal from office.

"He got a dirty deal," Robert C. Bush, of Andalusia said. "There is a bunch of liberal justices that make the laws and enforce them. I think the Ten Commandments should stay, and let Moore stay in office."

One area resident said Moore's removal from office was inevitable, but he wonders why.

"There was no way he wasn't going to be kicked out," Donald Barton, of Andalusia said. "I don't agree with the ruling. From my understanding, the federal courthouse has Ten Commandments up there, as well as courthouses all over the country. We have the words "In God We Trust" on our money. I wonder what the big deal (over the monument) is."