Newdow v. United States of America
Description: A group of atheists filed a lawsuit against the federal government that claims the use of the national motto, “In God We Trust,” on money is unconstitutional even though it is a practice that has deep roots in American history and federal courts have repeatedly upheld it as constitutional.
2nd Circuit upholds 'In God We Trust' on US currency
The following quote may be attributed to Alliance Defending Freedom Litigation Staff Counsel Rory Gray regarding Wednesday’s decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit in Newdow v. United States of America to uphold the use of the national motto, “In God We Trust,” on U.S. currency:“Americans need not be forced to abandon their religious heritage simply to appease someone’s animosity toward anything that references God. Courts have repeatedly affirmed that the national motto, ‘In God We Trust,’ is constitutional and can be used on U.S. currency. The 2nd Circuit rightly reached the same conclusion because this suit was based on a deeply flawed understanding of the First Amendment.”
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ABOUT Rory Gray
Rory Gray, Esq., serves as senior counsel with Alliance Defending Freedom, where he plays a strategic role on the Appellate Advocacy Team. Since joining ADF in 2011, Gray has worked diligently on key cases to preserve religious freedom and free speech in America. He has served as a member of the main litigation teams in Thomas More Law Center v. Bonta, Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission,Trinity Lutheran Church of Columbia v. Comer,Conestoga Wood Specialties Corp. v. Sebelius, and Reed v. Town of Gilbert. Additionally, Gray has written briefs at all levels of federal and state courts, including an amicus brief in Newdow v. Congress of the United States, in which the Second Circuit upheld the use of the national motto, “In God We Trust,” on U.S. currency. Gray earned his J.D. from Washington and Lee University School of Law, graduating magna cum laude in 2007. Before graduating, he completed the ADF leadership development program to become a Blackstone Fellow in 2005. After law school, Gray clerked for the Hon. Bobby R. Baldock on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit from 2007-2009 and for the Hon. G. Steven Agee on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit from 2009-2011. A member of the state bars of Georgia, Arizona, and Virginia, Gray is also admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court and various appellate and trial courts.