Contact: Brad Dacus, President, Pacific Justice Institute, 916-857-6900

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., March 12 /Standard Newswire/ -- 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.

About The Pacific Justice Institute:  Pacific Justice Institute is a non-profit 501(c)(3) legal defense organization specializing in the defense of religious freedom, parental rights, and other civil liberties. Pacific Justice Institute works diligently, without charge, to provide their clients with all the legal support they need.  Pacific Justice Institute's strategy is to coordinate and oversee large numbers of concurrent court actions through a network of over 1,000 affiliate attorneys nationwide. And, according to former US Attorney General Edwin Meese, "The Institute fills a critical need for those whose civil liberties are threatened." "Through our dedicated attorneys and supporters, we defend the rights of countless individuals, families and churches... without charge."

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