Judge: School Pledge Is Unconstitutional
Sep 14 2:39 PM US/Eastern
 
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By DAVID KRAVETS
Associated Press Writer


SAN FRANCISCO


Reciting the Pledge of Allegiance in public schools was declared unconstitutional Wednesday by a federal judge ruling in the second attempt by an atheist to have the pledge removed from classrooms. The man lost his previous battle before the U.S. Supreme Court

U.S. District Judge Lawrence Karlton ruled that the pledge's reference to one nation "under God" violates school children's right to be "free from a coercive requirement to affirm God."

Karlton said he was bound by precedent of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which in 2002 ruled in favor of Sacramento atheist Michael Newdow that the pledge is unconstitutional when recited in public schools.

The Supreme Court dismissed the case last year, saying Newdow lacked standing because he did not have custody of his elementary school daughter he sued on behalf of.

Newdow, an attorney and a medical doctor, filed an identical case on behalf of three unnamed parents and their children. Karlton said those families have the right to sue.

Karlton, ruling in Sacramento, said he would sign a restraining order preventing the recitation of the pledge at the Elk Grove Unified, Rio Linda and Elverta Joint Elementary school districts, where the plaintiffs' children attend.

The decision sets up another showdown over the pledge in schools.

The Becket Fund, a religious rights group that is a party to the case, said it would immediately appeal the case to the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. If the court does not change its precedent, the group would go to the Supreme Court.

"It's a way to get this issue to the Supreme Court for a final decision to be made," said fund attorney Jared Leland.

Newdow, reached at his home, was not immediately prepared to comment.

Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

dupe

www.jobrelatedstuff.com/forums/topic.html?b=1&f=5&t=389862

We need to run on this in the '06 and '08 elections. Democrats will again be on the defensive with what this Jimmy Carter appointee has done to our heritage.

Quoted: dupe www.jobrelatedstuff.com/forums/topic.html?b=1&f=5&t=389862

+1
Dupe
IBTL
Draw Down

www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=1&f=5&t=389862

http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=1&f=5&t=389862