Martin Luther King Jr.’s children return to court over his Bible and Nobel Prize

Emma Lacey-Bordeaux, CNN
2 minute read
Updated 1:20 PM EST, Tue January 13, 2015
The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was best known for his role in the civil rights movement and nonviolent protests. His life's work has been honored with a national holiday, schools and public buildings named after him, and a memorial on the National Mall in Washington. Take a look back at the late civil rights leader's defining years. Here, King speaks in Washington in 1968, the year he was assassinated.
The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was best known for his role in the civil rights movement and nonviolent protests. His life's work has been honored with a national holiday, schools and public buildings named after him, and a memorial on the National Mall in Washington. Take a look back at the late civil rights leader's defining years. Here, King speaks in Washington in 1968, the year he was assassinated.
Matthew Lewis/The Washington Post/getty images
King outlines boycott strategies to his advisers and organizers on January 27, 1956. Seated are the Rev. Ralph Abernathy, left, and Rosa Parks, center, who was the catalyst for the protest of bus riders.
King outlines boycott strategies to his advisers and organizers on January 27, 1956. Seated are the Rev. Ralph Abernathy, left, and Rosa Parks, center, who was the catalyst for the protest of bus riders.
Don Cravens//Time Life Pictures/Getty Images
King sits for a police mugshot after his arrest for directing a citywide boycott of segregated buses on February 24, 1956.
King sits for a police mugshot after his arrest for directing a citywide boycott of segregated buses on February 24, 1956.
Don Cravens//Time Life Pictures/Getty Images
King stands in front of a bus at the end of the Montgomery bus boycott in Montgomery, Alabama, on December 26, 1956.
King stands in front of a bus at the end of the Montgomery bus boycott in Montgomery, Alabama, on December 26, 1956.
Don Cravens/Time Life Pictures/Getty Images
King speaks during the Prayer Pilgrimage near the Reflecting Pool in Washington on May 17, 1957.
King speaks during the Prayer Pilgrimage near the Reflecting Pool in Washington on May 17, 1957.
Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Accompanied by his wife, Coretta Scott, King leaves Harlem Hospital after being stabbed near the heart on September 20, 1958. The near-fatal incident occurred when he was autographing copies of his book at a Harlem bookstore.
Accompanied by his wife, Coretta Scott, King leaves Harlem Hospital after being stabbed near the heart on September 20, 1958. The near-fatal incident occurred when he was autographing copies of his book at a Harlem bookstore.
Phil Greitzer/NY Daily News Archive/Getty Images
King delivers a sermon at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta in September 1960.
King delivers a sermon at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta in September 1960.
Donald Uhrbrock//Time Life Pictures/Getty Images
King, his wife and children, Yolanda, 5, and Martin Luther III, 3, play the piano together in their living room in Atlanta in 1960.
King, his wife and children, Yolanda, 5, and Martin Luther III, 3, play the piano together in their living room in Atlanta in 1960.
Donald Uhrbrock/Time Life Pictures/Getty Images
Moderator John McCaffery, left, segregationist editor James J. Kilpatrick and King debate segregation in New York on November 11, 1960.
Moderator John McCaffery, left, segregationist editor James J. Kilpatrick and King debate segregation in New York on November 11, 1960.
Bob Ganley/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank
King addresses a crowd of demonstrators outside the Lincoln Memorial during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in Washington on August 28, 1963. He delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech to more than 250,000 people.
King addresses a crowd of demonstrators outside the Lincoln Memorial during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in Washington on August 28, 1963. He delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech to more than 250,000 people.
Francis Miller/Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
President Lyndon B. Johnson talks with King and civil rights leaders at the White House. On July 2, 1964, Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act into law.
President Lyndon B. Johnson talks with King and civil rights leaders at the White House. On July 2, 1964, Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act into law.
Universal History Archive/Getty Images
King speaks with Malcolm X at a press conference on March 26, 1964.
King speaks with Malcolm X at a press conference on March 26, 1964.
Universal History Archive/Getty Images
In 1963, King became the first African-American to be named Time magazine's Man of the Year.
In 1963, King became the first African-American to be named Time magazine's Man of the Year.
Reg Lancaster/Express/Getty Images
King receives the Nobel Prize for Peace from the president of the Nobel Prize committee, Gunnar Jahn, in Oslo, Norway, on December 10, 1964. At the time he was the youngest person to win the prize.
King receives the Nobel Prize for Peace from the president of the Nobel Prize committee, Gunnar Jahn, in Oslo, Norway, on December 10, 1964. At the time he was the youngest person to win the prize.
Keystone/Getty Images
King and his wife lead a black voting rights march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, on March 30, 1965.
King and his wife lead a black voting rights march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, on March 30, 1965.
William Lovelace/Express/Getty Images
King addresses civil rights marchers in Selma in April 1965.
King addresses civil rights marchers in Selma in April 1965.
Keystone/Getty Images
Mississippi patrolmen shove King during the 220-mile "March Against Fear" from Memphis, Tennessee, to Jackson, Mississippi, on June 8, 1966.
Mississippi patrolmen shove King during the 220-mile "March Against Fear" from Memphis, Tennessee, to Jackson, Mississippi, on June 8, 1966.
Underwood Archives/Getty Images
King signs the Degree Roll at Newcastle University after receiving an honorary Doctor of Civil Law degree, in Newcastle, England, on November 14, 1967.
King signs the Degree Roll at Newcastle University after receiving an honorary Doctor of Civil Law degree, in Newcastle, England, on November 14, 1967.
Getty Images
King and comedian Bob Hope, right, talk at John F. Kennedy International airport in New York on November 14, 1967.
King and comedian Bob Hope, right, talk at John F. Kennedy International airport in New York on November 14, 1967.
Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Dr. Ralph Abernathy, Jesse Jackson and others stand on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 4, 1968, pointing in the direction of the gunshots that killed King, who lies at their feet.
Dr. Ralph Abernathy, Jesse Jackson and others stand on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 4, 1968, pointing in the direction of the gunshots that killed King, who lies at their feet.
Joseph Louw/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images
King's body is pictured on April 8, 1968, following his murder in Memphis. His wife, Coretta, led a silent march of 50,000 people through the streets of Memphis before making a televised speech at his funeral.
King's body is pictured on April 8, 1968, following his murder in Memphis. His wife, Coretta, led a silent march of 50,000 people through the streets of Memphis before making a televised speech at his funeral.
Art Shay/Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
The statue of King is pictured at a memorial in August 2013 in Washington, as thousands of people gathered to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, where King gave his "I Have a Dream" speech.
The statue of King is pictured at a memorial in August 2013 in Washington, as thousands of people gathered to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, where King gave his "I Have a Dream" speech.
JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images
The legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.

Story highlights

Dexter King, Martin Luther King III want to sell MLK's Bible and Nobel Peace Prize

Sister Bernice opposes selling the items

CNN  — 

The children of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. will be in an Atlanta court Tuesday in the latest chapter of an ugly legal fight pitting the two brothers against their sister.

At issue: control over two precious items that belonged to their father, his Bible and his Nobel Peace Prize.

Bernice King contends her brothers aim to sell them, something she robustly opposes.

Dexter King and Martin Luther King III succeeded last year in getting Bernice King to hand over the relics.

Since then, they’ve been in a safe deposit box and, in a sign of how contentious the fight has been, only a judge has a key.

WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 1968: Martin Luther King speaks at Vermont Avenue Baptist Church February 1968 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/The Washington Post)
WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 1968: Martin Luther King speaks at Vermont Avenue Baptist Church February 1968 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/The Washington Post)
Matthew Lewis/The Washington Post/getty images
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Related gallery The legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney could soon decide which side will ultimately control the items.

The Bible, which King took on the road with him, was used to swear in President Barack Obama for his second term. The Peace Prize King received in 1964 was for his “nonviolent campaign against racism.” King’s acceptance of that prize is the opening scene in the critically acclaimed civil rights film “Selma.”

That image: of a civil rights icon being recognized for his work stands sharply at odds with the public fight between the siblings. Something Bernice King herself has noted, calling it “an embarrassing chapter in our family’s history.”

Before the case ended up in a courtroom, the siblings held a vote to determine if they should sell the items. The three make up the board of the King Estate. The brothers say that the future of the estate would be threatened if a sale could not be made. They both voted to sell, Bernice voted against.

No prospective buyers or dollar amount have been publicly disclosed.

In 2006 the estate put King’s papers on the auction block. But before the planned sale at Sotheby’s could go forward a group of anonymous buyers stepped in. The group paid an “undisclosed amount” for the 10,000 manuscripts and books, including drafts of his “I Have a Dream” speech. The collection, which had been expected to go for as much as $30 million, is now housed at Morehouse College in Atlanta.

Two years later Bernice and Martin filed suit against Dexter. They accused him of converting “substantial funds from the estate’s financial account at Bank of America” for his own use. The case was later settled.