Pledge Ruled Unconstiutional

The Pledge of Allegiance was ruled unconstitutional by a Federal court this week. It seems that Michael Newdow is aiming for a showdown at the SCOTUS again.

That court already ruled in favor of Newdow’s cause in 2002, but the case was later dismissed by the U.S. Supreme Court.

In deciding the current case, U.S. District Judge Lawrence Karlton in Sacramento said he was bound by the Court of Appeals’ previous decision.

Karlton said he would sign a restraining order prohibiting the recitation of the pledge at Elk Grove Unified, Rio Linda and Elverta Joint Elementary school districts, where the children of Newdow and his fellow plaintiffs are enrolled.

The order would not apply to other California districts unless it was affirmed by a higher court.

Also of interest in this area, Sam Harris has posted a presentation he gave earlier this summer at the Idea City '05 Conference at his website.