JUDGE STRIKES DOWN PLEDGE IN SCHOOLS.Byline: Staff and Wire Services SAN FRANCISCO San Francisco (săn frănsĭs`kō), city (1990 pop. 723,959), coextensive with San Francisco co., W Calif., on the tip of a peninsula between the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay, which are connected by the strait known as the Golden - Setting up another likely Supreme Court showdown over the Pledge of Allegiance Pledge of Allegiance, in full, Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, oath that proclaims loyalty to the United States. and its national symbol. , a federal judge ruled Wednesday that reciting the pledge in public schools is unconstitutional. The judge granted legal standing to two families represented by an atheist who lost his previous pledge case before the Supreme Court, and ruled that the pledge's reference to one nation ``under God'' violates their children's right to be ``free from a coercive requirement to affirm God.'' U.S. District Judge Lawrence Karlton in Sacramento wrote that he was bound by the precedent of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which in 2002 ruled in favor of Sacramento atheist 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 that the pledge is unconstitutional when recited in public schools. The Supreme Court dismissed the case last year, saying Newdow lacked standing because he did not have custody of his elementary-school daughter, on whose behalf he sued. The ruling is not expected to trigger any changes in Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. Unified classrooms, said Kevin Reed Kevin Bruce Reed (born May 7, 1955) is an American Presbyterian author, theologian, and publisher. Reed grew up in Dallas, Texas, and attended the Richardson, Texas public schools. , general counsel for the district. Under the district's current rules, teachers must lead students in a daily Pledge of Allegiance, though students can choose not to participate for any reason. ``Right now my advice to the board is to wait and see until there are further developments in the circuit court,'' Reed said. |
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