Reciting Pledge of Allegiance Declared Unconstitutional
In four California school districts that is. I’ve got to wonder why this same guy who was offended by the “under God” statement is really offended by it, or for that matter the recitation of such a pledge? Did he have a bad experience with it as a small child?
The ruling, handed down by U.S. District Judge Lawrence Karlton, stated that the statement “under God” violated the children’s right to be “free from a coercive requirement to affirm God.” (MSNBC.com/Associated Press | read full story) I wasn’t aware that reciting such a pledge was coercive, but it sure did make me feel patriotic, under God or not.
Karlton felt that he was bound by the precedent of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which ruled that the recitation of the pledge in public schools is unconstitutional. I hope someone loosens up his ropes soon, I’d hate to see a federal judge bound by anything. Apparently the Supreme Court dismissed the very same case that Karlton was bound by, because of a procedural technicality.
Lawrence “The Judge” Karlton, was prepared to sign a restraining order to end the dirty pledge recitation immediately, but it would not extend beyond the four districts mentioned in the case. Unless someone was bribed in a higher court and and the ruling was the same, that is; in that case it would extend to 9 other western states and cause a bevy of right-wing citizens to fly off at the handle.
And this case couldn’t come at a better time. Think of the possibilities once the constitutionality of pledge recitation is taken before the Supreme Court of the United States. Any number of pledges may soon be up for elimination if the Supreme Court agrees with “The Judge”.
But it seems “The Judge” forgot about one thing. Oh yeah, thats right, the ruling in August by the U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals, which upheld the required recitation of the pledge in Virginia. Take that Judge. Apparently Mr. Karlton doesn’t truly believe in precedent.
Disclaimer: All relavent information and facts were gathered from the Associated Press story on MSNBC.com.
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