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 December 31, 2003
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Atheist to Debate "Under God" in Court
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Posted: December 1, 2003 at 6:25 p.m.

SACRAMENTO (BCN) -- The atheist father who challenged the words "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance said Monday he is delighted that he will be able to argue the case himself in the U.S. Supreme Court this spring.

Sacramento doctor Michael Newdow said, "I'm glad they said yes. I think I know the stuff and I've argued all my life.

"I'm good at arguing," he added.

The high court announced in a brief order Monday morning that it has granted Newdow's request to be his own lawyer.

No date has been set for the hearing, but Newdow said he expects it to be sometime this spring.

Newdow, who works part-time as an emergency room doctor, has a law degree but is not a member of the Supreme Court bar and needed permission to speak for himself during the hearing.

Newdow's daughter attends elementary school in Elk Grove near Sacramento.

He contends it is unconstitutional for public schools to require students to listen to their teachers lead their classmates in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance with the words "one nation under God."

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco agreed with him, ruling last year that school-sponsored recitations of the pledge violate the requirement of separation of church and state.

In October, the Supreme Court announced it will hear the Elk Grove Unified School District's appeal of that decision. The 9th Circuit decision has been on hold and reciting of the pledge has continued while the appeal has proceeded.

Newdow, who wrote all his own briefs in the case, said he will take advice on how to argue before the high court from some lawyers and law professors who have offered to help.

"I have nothing against advice," he said.

(Copyright 2003, Bay City News. All rights reserved.)

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