Massachusetts High Court Hears State Constitutional Challenge To Pledge

On Sept. 4, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial court heard oral arguments (video of full arguments) in Doe v. Acton-Boxborough Regional School District. The suit was brought by an atheist-humanist family challenging the constitutionality of the daily recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance in Massachusetts schools. (No student who objects is required to recite the pledge.) The trial court rejected a challenge under the Massachusetts state constitution to the practice, holding that insertion of the phrase "under God" was merely a reference to historical and religious traditions. (See prior posting.)  RNS describes the 35 minute oral argument.