Ohio federal judge tosses California atheist's lawsuit over 'God' on money
By Eric Heisig
on December 05, 2016 at 12:43 PM
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A federal judge in Youngstown tossed a California atheist's lawsuit that said having "In God We Trust" on U.S. currency violates the constitutional separation of church and state.
U.S. District Judge Benita Pearson wrote in a Nov. 30 opinion that Sacramento doctor and lawyer Michael Newdow and the other plaintiffs can't show that having the phrase on a dollar bill hinders their right to exercise their religious beliefs, or their lack thereof.
It also does not substantially affect their right to free speech, since no reasonable person would think that a person paying with cash is doing so to spread a religious message, Pearson wrote.
Newdow filed his lawsuit in January, representing many unnamed parents and children that are atheist or being raised as atheist. Some are from Ohio, while others are from Michigan. The Northern Ohio Freethought Society is part of the lawsuit.
http://www.cleveland.com/court-justice/index.ssf/2016/12/ohio_federal_judge_tosses_cali.html
