Atheist Sues New Jersey Over Refusal of Vanity License Plate

A New Jersey woman yesterday filed suit in federal district court against the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission over its refusal to issue her a vanity license plate reading "8THEIST".  The complaint (full text) in Morgan v. Martinez, (D NJ, filed 4/17/2014), contends that in rejecting the plate because it "may carry connotations offensive to good taste and decency" the state violated plaintiff's rights under the 1st and 14th Amendments.  The state was willing to issue a vanity plate reading "BAPTIST".  Americans United issued a press release announcing the filing of the lawsuit.