An Ohio federal district court in December rejected several challenges to the United States’ use of the motto “In God We Trust” on currency. The court rejected FFRF Member Michael Newdow’s (and other plaintiffs’) First Amendment free exercise claims, as well as his compelled speech and equal protection arguments.
The court said in part: Plaintiffs cannot demonstrate that the use of the motto on currency substantially burdens their religious exercise. Credit cards and checks allow plaintiffs to conduct the bulk of their purchases with currency not inscribed with the motto. And for cash-only transactions, such as a garage sale or a coin-operated laundromat, the use of the motto on currency does not substantially burden plaintiffs’ free exercise.
