Federal Appeals Court Goes With 'God'

[Friedman, Howard M.]

The original complaint asked for a declaratory judgment that adding "so help me God" to the oath, and having clergy as part of the inaugural ceremony are unconstitutional. That would presumably apply to future inaugurations as well.  Here is a link to the original complaint: http://www.humanistlegalcenter.org/cases/Invocation/Newdow_v_Roberts_D_DC_complaint_2008-12-29.pdf
 
Howard Friedman

________________________________

From: religionlaw-bounces at lists.ucla.edu on behalf of Douglas Laycock
Sent: Thu 12/10/2009 11:15 AM
To: Law & Religion issues for Law Academics
Subject: Re: Federal Appeals Court Goes With 'God'



Does anyone know why his case is not moot?

Quoting Joel Sogol <jlsatty at wwisp.com>:

>  <http://alm-editorial-us.msgfocus.com/c/1jdUyMEEiPtTMiYph> Federal Appeals
> Court Goes With 'God'
> The National Law Journal
>
> Before every oral argument in the D.C. Circuit, a court clerk tells everyone
> to draw near and give their attention because the court is now sitting. The
> opening cry ends with the line "God save the United States and this
> honorable court." Atheist lawyer and physician Michael Newdow filed a motion
> to block the clerk from referring to God next Tuesday when a panel takes up
> his case challenging the custom of concluding the presidential oath of
> office with the line "So help me God." A panel rejected that request
> Wednesday.
>
>
>
>
>
> Joel L. Sogol
>
> Attorney at Law
>
> 811 21st Avenue
>
> Tuscaloosa, Alabama  35401
>
> ph (205) 345-0966
>
> fx  (205) 345-0971
>
>  <mailto:jlsatty at wwisp.com> jlsatty at wwisp.com
>
>
>
> Ben Franklin observed that truth wins a fair fight -- which is why we have
> evidence rules in U.S. courts.
>
>
>
>


Douglas Laycock
Yale Kamisar Collegiate Professor of Law
University of Michigan Law School
625 S. State St.
Ann Arbor, MI  48109-1215
  734-647-9713 

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