第九巡迴上訴法院表決：國家格言“我們信靠神”及效忠誓詞合符憲法

聯邦第九巡迴上訴法院今天發表兩份關乎國家格言（National Motto）及效忠誓詞(Pledge of Allegiance) 的訴訟之法院判決理由書。這兩項由Michael Newdow醫生所提出的訴訟曾引起全國的注目。根據法院今天的裁判，國家格言及效忠誓詞並不違反美國憲法第一修正案之政教分離的規定。

太平洋法律協會(PJI) 會長Brad Dacus表示："我們對法院的裁判十分高興，並確信憲法支持國家格言及效忠誓詞，更相信在將來的複審中仍會繼續屹立不倒。" 太平洋法律協會在此案件以被告組織的身份上庭參與，更在訴訟中全力以赴維護國家格言。協會首席律師Kevin Snider當時與美國司法部的Lowell Sturgill於上訴法院中並肩維護國家格言， 與控方辯論。為表示對國家格言及效忠誓詞的支持，協會亦曾向法庭提供法院之友的法律協助書。協助書由聖地牙哥PJI 聯盟律師Pete Lepiscopo執筆。
Today the Ninth Circuit issued two opinions regarding the national motto and the pledge of allegiance. The Court found that neither the motto nor the pledge violate the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause. Dr. Michael Newdow filed the two cases which have garnered national attention.

“We are delighted by the outcome and believe that the constitutionality of both the motto and the pledge will continue to be upheld under further review,” said Brad Dacus, president of the Pacific Justice Institute. The Pacific Justice Institute intervened as a defendant organization and fully participated in the litigation of the national motto. Kevin Snider, PJI’s chief counsel, argued the case along with Lowell Sturgill of the U.S. Department of Justice, before the appellate court. PJI also filed a friend of the court brief in support of the pledge. PJI affiliate attorney Pete Lepiscopo of San Diego authored the brief.