ACLJ Asks Federal Appeals Court to Uphold Dismissal of Atheist Lawsuit Challenging Inaugural Prayer.WASHINGTON -- The American Center The American Center is a high-rise tower in Southfield, Michigan. It was built in 1975 and stands at 26 floors, with one basement floor, for a total of 27. The building's main use is that of a typical office tower. It also includes a parking garage and retail spaces. for Law and Justice (ACLJ ACLJ American Center for Law and Justice ACLJ Appleseed Center for Law and Justice (Washington, DC) ), focusing on constitutional law, today filed an amicus brief asking a federal appeals court to uphold the dismissal of a lawsuit challenging the phrase "So help me God" in the Presidential inaugural oath as well as prayers at the inauguration INAUGURATION. This word was applied by the Romans to the ceremony of dedicating some temple, or raising some man to the priesthood, after the augurs had been consulted. It was afterwards applied to the installation (q.v. ceremony itself. The ACLJ's amicus brief urges the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia District of Columbia, federal district (2000 pop. 572,059, a 5.7% decrease in population since the 1990 census), 69 sq mi (179 sq km), on the east bank of the Potomac River, coextensive with the city of Washington, D.C. (the capital of the United States). to uphold a lower court decision issued in January rejecting a lawsuit filed by some 30 plaintiffs including California atheist ATHEIST. One who denies the existence of God. 2. As atheists have not any religion that can bind their consciences to speak the truth, they are excluded from being witnesses. Bull. N. P. 292; 1 Atk. 40; Gilb. Ev. 129; 1 Phil. Ev. 19. See also, Co. Litt. 6 b. Michael Newdow Michael Arthur Newdow (born June 24 1953 in New York City) is a Sacramento, California attorney and emergency medicine physician. He is best known for his efforts to bar public schools in the United States from reciting the current version of the Pledge of Allegiance because of its . "This is just one more attempt to carry on a relentless crusade to purge all religious expression in the federal government," said Jay Sekulow, Chief Counsel of the ACLJ. "The federal district court correctly dismissed this suit and we're confident that the federal appeals court will uphold that decision. This legal challenge has no merit and is nothing more than a continuation of a flawed attempt to remove all religious references and observances from American public life. This continuing challenge has wasted untold judicial resources - resources that are clearly needed in cases involving real threats to American liberties." In its brief filed today with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, the ACLJ urges the appeals court to affirm the lower court decision dismissing Newdow's suit and argues that the legal challenge lacks standing and is without merit. You can read the ACLJ amicus brief filed today here: http://www.aclj.org/media/pdf/Newdow_v_Roberts_amicus_brief.pdf In January, days before the Presidential inauguration, a federal district court rejected Newdow's challenge and refused to block the inaugural prayer saying the plaintiffs lacked standing because they failed to show harm that would result from the prayers taking place. The ACLJ also filed an amicus brief with the federal district court in January arguing that Newdow's suit "must not be permitted to move forward" noting that references to God at inaugurations date back to the very origins of this country. The ACLJ amicus brief filed with the federal district court is posted here: http://www.aclj.org/media/pdf/3ProposedAmicusCuriaeBrief.pdf In the brief filed with the federal appeals court today, the ACLJ states: "Newdow has filed no less than nine lawsuits, and has wasted untold judicial resources. His targeting of religious expression at Presidential inaugurations is particularly meritless given the controlling decision of the Supreme Court of the United States Supreme Court of the United States Final court of appeal in the U.S. judicial system and final interpreter of the Constitution of the United States. The Supreme Court was created by the Constitutional Convention of 1787 as the head of a federal court system, though it was in Marsh v. Chambers Marsh v. Chambers, 463 U.S. 783 (1983)[1], was a case in which the Supreme Court of the United States held that government funding for chaplains was constitutional because of the "unique history" of the United States. , 463 U.S. 783 (1983)." Led by Chief Counsel Jay Sekulow, the American Center for Law and Justice focuses on constitutional law and is based in Washington, D.C. The ACLJ is online at www.aclj.org. |
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