Supreme Court Showdown!!!

[Andonyx]

The Biggest....Baddest....most mind bendingly Superior Court of them all, The United States Supreme Court is about to duke it out over the Pledge of Allegiance!

It'll be Legal mayhem mayhem mayhem !

With really crappy atheist poster child, and ordained minister Michael Newdow Newdow Newdow squaring off against 60 years of American history in an attempt to kick God's Ass!!!

If you're not there....you better be DEAD!!!

http://www.cnn.com/2003/LAW/10/14/scotus.pledge.of.allegiance.ap/index.html

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Supreme Court said Tuesday it will decide whether the Pledge of Allegiance recited by generations of American schoolchildren is an unconstitutional blending of church and state.
The case sets up an emotional showdown over God in the public schools and in public life. It will settle whether the phrase "one nation under God" will remain a part of the patriotic oath as it is recited in most classrooms.
The court will hear the case sometime next year.

In all seriousness, this is so NOT the guy we want representing himself in fron of the SCOTUS.

 

[arcticpenguin]

Newdow holds medical and legal degrees, and says he is an ordained minister. He is representing himself in filings at the high court, and has said he will argue his case in person.

He's representing himself? I hope at least the usual suspects will file amicus briefs.

 

[Kodiak]

In all seriousness, this is so NOT the guy we want representing himself in fron of the SCOTUS.

According to this MSNBC web article , only the school district's appeal is being heard by the high court.

SCOTUS did say they would look at Newdow's right to even bring his complaint, though.

 

[arcticpenguin]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tm...ap_on_go_su_co/scotus_pledge_of_allegiance_12

Justice Antonin Scalia will not take part in the case, apparently because of public remarks earlier this year critical of the lower court ruling in the pledge case. His absence sets up the possibility that the other eight justices could deadlock 4-4, a result that would allow the lower court decision to stand.

Woo-hoo!

In its legal filings so far, the administration has argued that the reference to God in the pledge is more about ceremony and history than about religion.

The reference is an "official acknowledgment of our nation's religious heritage," similar to the "In God We Trust" stamped on coins and bills, Solicitor general Theodore Olson told the court. It is far-fetched to say such references pose a real danger of imposing state-sponsored religion, Olson wrote.

They seem to be selectively concerned with preserving the portions of our history which are pro-religion. When they say it's not about religion, it's about religion.

 

[Hexxenhammer]

What chaps my hide is that the tradition argument doesn't even hold as the original pledge was changed to include the "under God". The "In God We Trust" on money has at least been there the whole time I think.

 

[arcticpenguin]

What chaps my hide is that the tradition argument doesn't even hold as the original pledge was changed to include the "under God". The "In God We Trust" on money has at least been there the whole time I think.

The U.S Treasurey says

The motto IN GOD WE TRUST was placed on United States coins largely because of the increased religious sentiment existing during the Civil War.
...
The Congress passed the Act of April 22, 1864. This legislation changed the composition of the one-cent coin and authorized the minting of the two-cent coin. The Mint Director was directed to develop the designs for these coins for final approval of the Secretary. IN GOD WE TRUST first appeared on the 1864 two-cent coin.
...
The use of IN GOD WE TRUST has not been uninterrupted. The motto disappeared from the five-cent coin in 1883, and did not reappear until production of the Jefferson nickel began in 1938. Since 1938, all United States coins bear the inscription. Later, the motto was found missing from the new design of the double-eagle gold coin and the eagle gold coin shortly after they appeared in 1907. In response to a general demand, Congress ordered it restored, and the Act of May 18, 1908, made it mandatory on all coins upon which it had previously appeared.
...

 

[Marvel Frozen]

What chaps my hide is that the tradition argument doesn't even hold as the original pledge was changed to include the "under God". The "In God We Trust" on money has at least been there the whole time I think.

"In God we trust" wasn't printed on coins until 1908, and not on paper currency until 1957. "Under God" was added to the pledge in 1954.

http://www.flash.net/~lbartley/au/issues/godtrust.htm