(2004-06-14) — The Supreme Court today recused itself from ruling on the constitutionality of the phrase “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance on the grounds that too many justices had a conflict of interest.

In a one-page ruling, the court wrote: “Whereas a significant minority, and perhaps a majority, of the justices on this court view God as their Father, a dispassionate consideration of the merits of the case might be jeopardized by the natural affection a child feels toward a parent. In fact, some members of this court have greater familial standing with God than the plaintiff, Michael Newdow, has with his daughter. We, therefore, recuse the court from this case.”