Media Advisory: Hearing in New Jersey Pledge Challenge, November 19 High school senior Samantha Jones defends Pledge against atheist attacks

Washington, D.C. — On November 19, 2014, a state court in New Jersey will consider dismissing the American Humanist Association’s attempt to stop New Jersey school children like Samantha Jones from reciting the Pledge of Allegiance in full. This is the second time the atheist group has sued at the state level to cut the words “under God” out of the Pledge. Their first suit, raising identical claims, was unanimously rejected by Massachusetts’ highest court earlier this year.

Who:      
Samantha Jones, student defending the Pledge, and
Eric Rassbach, Deputy General Counsel at Becket will both be available for comment immediately after the hearing.

What:      
Hearing in American Humanist Association v. Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District                       

When:
9am (EST), November 19, 2014

Where:
Monmouth County Superior Court, 71 Monument Park, Freehold, NJ 07728

Samantha Jones and Becket attorneys will be available for comment immediately following the hearing. For more information or to arrange an interview with an attorney, please contact Melinda Skea at media@becketlaw.org or 202.349.7224.

Becket is a non-profit, public-interest law firm dedicated to protecting the free expression of all religious traditions. For over 20 years, it has defended clients of all faiths, including Buddhists, Christians, Jews, Hindus, Muslims, Native Americans, Sikhs, and Zoroastrians. Its recent cases include two major Supreme Court victories: the landmark ruling in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby, and the 9-0 ruling in Hosanna-Tabor v. EEOC, which The Wall Street Journal called one of “the most important religious liberty cases in a half century.”

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For more information, or to arrange an interview with one of the attorneys, please contact Melinda Skea at media@becketlaw.org or call 202.349.7224.