On March 8, 2000, Rev. Dr. Michael Newdow filed suit to end the practice of public school teachers leading students (including Newdow’s daughter) in claiming that the United States is “one Nation under God” in the sole national Pledge of Allegiance every school day. He lost in the District Court, but won a victory on June 26, 2002, when the United Ninth States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled that the Pledge violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. The case was eventually appealed to the Supreme Court, which held oral argument in the case in March 2004. On Flag Day, June 14, 2004, the Court ruled that – for “prudential” reasons – Newdow would have to bring his claim in state court (in California), because there were family law concerns, and the federal courts shouldn’t involve themselves in family law matters. Thus, the decision of Ninth Circuit was reversed on standing grounds.
Supreme Court Updates (Jump to District Court, Jump to Appeals Court)
[catlist name=Pledge2000SC orderby=date order=desc numberposts=-1 date=yes content=yes]
Case Updates for Appeals (Jump to District Court)
[catlist name=Pledge20009thC orderby=date order=desc numberposts=-1 date=yes content=yes post_parent]
Case Updates for District Court
[catlist name=Pledge2000ECAD orderby=date order=desc numberposts=-1 date=yes content=yes post_parent]