The challenge to “In God We Trust” (9th Circuit)

Current Status:
A challenge to “In God We Trust” was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California on November 18, 2005. The Federal Defendants – along with a “non-profit organization dedicated to defending religious and civil liberties” – filed Motions to Dismiss, which were granted by Judge Frank Damrell on June 12, 2006.

An appeal was taken to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. On March 11, 2010, the panel unanimously agreed that Circuit precedent mandated a decision in favor of the government.

Plaintiff petitioned for a rehearing on April 26, 2010. The Court denied that petition on October 8, 2010. A Petition for Certiorari was filed on January 4, 2011.
The Supreme Court denied certiorari on March 7, 2011. This case, therefore, is now over.

Case Updates for Appeals (Jump to District)

• Motto Case 9th Circuit Appeals Updates April 22, 2010

  U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
  2006-07-27	Clerk of the Court’s Time Schedule Order [31K]
  2006-07-27	Clerk’s Information Package for Pro Se Appellants [211K]
  2006-09-05	Plaintiff’s letter indicating change in Briefing Schedule [91K]
  2006-09-19	Plaintiff’s Opening Brief [373K]
  2006-09-19	Excerpts of Record [5.3M !!]
  2006-11-17	Intervener-Respondent PJI’s Brief [737K]
  2006-11-20	Federal Defendants-Respondents’ Brief [192K]
  2006-11-20	ACLJ’s Amicus Brief [102K]
  2006-11-22	Wallbuilders, Inc.’s Amicus Brief [238K]
  2006-11-30	Foundation for Moral Law’s Amicus Brief filed. [486K]
  2006-12-26	Plaintiff’s Reply Brief [288K]
  2007-01-23	Clerk’s Record on Appeal [5K]
  2007-01-27	Plaintiff submits Supplemental Authority: Faith Center Church v. Glover [115 K]
  2007-01-27	Plaintiff submits Supplemental Authority: Arizona State Board v. U.S. Dept of Educ. [118 K]
  2007-03-22	Plaintiff submits Supplemental Authority: Srint Telephony v. County of San Diego [120 K]
  2007-03-22	Plaintiff submits Plaintiff’s Supplemental Authority: Navajo Nation v. U.S. Forst Service [117 K]
  2007-04-05	Plaintiff submits Supplemental Authority: Massachusetts v. EPA [115 K]
  2007-05-10	Plaintiff submits Supplemental Authority: Rosenbaum v. San Francisco [119 K]
  2007-05-10	Plaintiff submits Supplemental Authority: Villegas v. City of Gilroy [118 K]
  2007-05-23	Plaintiff submits Supplemental Authority: Vasquez v. Los Angeles County [116 K]
  2007-06-02	Plaintiff submits Supplemental Authority: United States v. Curtin (en banc) [117 K]
  2007-06-19	Plaintiff submits Supplemental Authority: Community House v. City of Boise [116 K]
  2007-08-13	Plaintiff submits Supplemental Authority: Washington v. Klem [119 K]
  2007-08-28	Plaintiff submits Supplemental Authority: Watts v. Florida Int’l University [114 K]
  2007-08-28	Plaintiff submits Supplemental Authority: Truth v. Kent Sch. Dist [141 K]
  2007-09-03	Plaintiff submits Supplemental Authority: The Access Fund v. USDA [120 K]
  2007-09-13	Plaintiff submits Supplemental Authority: Buono v. Kempthorne [121 K]
  2007-09-13	Plaintiff submits Erratum re: number of currency bills produced eah year [114 K]
  2007-09-15	Plaintiff submits Supplemental Authority: Inouye v. Kemna [124 K]
  2007-09-17	Plaintiff submits Supplemental Authority: St. John’s United Church v. Chicago [122 K]
  2007-09-21	Plaintiff submits Supplemental Authority: Fields v. Brown [117 K]
  2007-09-22	Plaintiff submits Supplemental Authority: 2007 Int’l Religious Freedom Report [125 K]
  2007-10-08	Plaintiff submits Supplemental Authority: Pocatello Education Ass’n v. Heideman [137 K]
  2010-03-11	Court of Appeal’s opinion [75 K]
  2010-04-22	Plaintiff’s Motion for Judicial Notice [176 K]
  2010-04-22	Plaintiff’s Petition for Rehearing

Case Updates for District Court

• Motto Case District Court Updates July 21, 2006

  U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
  2005-11-18	Original Complaint filed by Plaintiff (Newdow) [1.2M] (superseded by: Plaintiff’s Amended Complaint filed on 2006-05-09. [3.5M])
  2005-11-18	Summons issued by District Court clerk.
  2005-11-18	District Court Judge Frank C. Damrell, Jr.’s Order Requiring Joint Status Report
  2005-11-29	Pacific Justice Institute’s Motion to Intervene
  2005-12-05	Response to Motion to Intervene filed by Plaintiff (Newdow).
  2006-01-25	Joint Status Report[93K]
  2006-03-27	ACLJ’s Amicus Brief [183K]
  2006-03-27	Federal Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss filed. [317K]
  2006-03-29	Thomas More Law Center’s Amicus Brief [74K]
  2006-03-31	Pacific Justice Institute’s Motion to Dismiss [193K]
  2006-04-18	Plaintiff’s Response to Federal Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss filed. [1.2M]
  2006-04-27	Federal Defendants’ Reply re: Motion to Dismiss [138K]
  2006-04-27	Pacific Justice Institute’s Reply re: Motion to Dismiss [137K]
  2006-05-09	Plaintiff’sAmended Complaint [3.5M]
  2006-05-18	Supplemental Authority re: Harper v. Poway submitted by Plaintiff.
  2006-05-26	Federal Defendants’ Supplemental Memorandum
  2006-06-05	Plaintiff’s Opposition to Federal Defendants’ Supplemental Motion [85K]
  2006-06-12	District Court Order Granting Motions to Dismiss
  2006-06-12	District Court Order of Judgment
  2006-07-21	Plaintiff’s Notice of Appeal [402K]
  2006-07-21	Plaintiff’s Civil Appeals Docketing Statement [306K]
  2006-07-21	District Court’s Notice of New Appeal sent to Court of Appeals. [5K]