D.C. court dismisses inauguration suit
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit Friday dismissed a lawsuit challenging the religious elements of President Obama's inauguration, including the inaugural prayers and the phrase "so help me God" in the presidential oath, Courthouse News Service reports.
The plaintiffs, led by prominent attorney and atheist Michael Newdow sought an order barring the prayers and the oath administrator's reference to God in the 2009 and future inaugurations, claiming they violated the Constitution's separation of church and state.
The district court dismissed the case for lack of standing, and the federal appeals court agreed, adding that the challenge to the 2009 ceremony was now moot.
The court said it was "impossible" to bar "other unknown oath administrators" and "other unnamed clergy" from making religious references at the 2013 and 2017 inaugurations.
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By
Washington Post editors
| May 10, 2010; 12:10 PM ET
Tags:
Inauguration of Barack Obama, Joseph Lowery, Rick Warren, Separation of church and state, United States
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Posted by: crzytwnman | May 10, 2010 2:25 PM | Report abuse
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Not that it really matters, but why would it be "impossible" to bar "other unknown oath administrators" and "other unnamed clergy" in the future? You just bar everyone from doing it, and that'll cover it all.