Pledge of Allegiance case scheduled for March 24

[peterh]

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2004/01/12/state1727EST0125.DTL

The Supreme Court's most-watched case of the year will be argued March 24, when a California father tries to convince the justices that the regular morning public school salute to the American flag is unconstitutional because of the reference to God.
Justices scheduled the one-hour argument on Monday, and also agreed to accept written arguments from other people and groups, including the mother of the girl in the case.
Michael Newdow, a doctor and lawyer, will argue the case himself, facing off with attorneys from a California school and possibly the Bush administration. The atheist from Sacramento, Calif., filed the case on behalf of his 9-year-old daughter.
The case is being heard without one of the court's most conservative members, Justice Antonin Scalia, who recused himself after making public comments about the case. Scalia did not take part in the decision Monday to allow the mother, Sandra Banning, to file arguments opposing Newdow.


My early prediction (based purely off the top of my head)…..4 – 4 case closed…..then a 24/7 lambasting in the media of those evil godless liberals….:eyes:

[RememberTheCoup]

1. What happens if SCOTUS splits 4-4? (nt)

[bluestateguy]

2. Scalia's out: Decision may hold

Newdow only needs 4 votes, but I's rather this decision not be handed down in October, as that would just play right into Karl Rove's hands.

[RememberTheCoup]

3. So in a 4-4 Newdow wins?

Hmm. Well, I think Scalia's plan was to make those remarks so that he would *have* to recuse himself. The right wing doesn't really care whether Newdow wins. It's like Ron Silver's character (a consultant)told Josh on an episode of West Wing -- "you didn't want the win, you wanted the issue" -- after Josh successfully fought with Republicans to get more money for fighting tobacco companies. The consultant told Josh that he could have used that issue to win several key swing states. That's the same plan Bush's gang is following. They want Newdow to win, and to win in an election year so that the "religious right" constituency will be energized into voting.

[peterh]

5. 9th circuit decision is basically upheld…

with ties or anything in the affirmation category.

And regardless of the timing or the circumstances involved….The integrity of the Constitution comes first and peoples reactions/emotions to said decision come last…..in my most humble opinion….of couse…


;-)

[RememberTheCoup]

6. Should come first?... yes

Does come first?... not with the Felonious Five on the court.

[Hobarticus]

4. I'm all for civil liberties, but...

...is this really a good thing?

[RememberTheCoup]

7. In what way do you feel it is not a good thing? (nt)