9TH CIRCUIT COURT NEEDS RESPONSIBLE, BUSH-PICKED JURISTS

The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco has ruled that the
Pledge of Allegiance is unconstitutional. The Pledge of Allegiance
unconstitutional? Americans should be outraged at this irresponsible
decision (The Maui News, June 27 and 28).

The court found that the reciting of the pledge by teachers and students
"amounts to a government endorsement of religion," going so far as to
compare the phrase "under God" with "under Zeus." Just last month, this
radical court found that certain people could smoke marijuana on federal
lands if it is part of their religion.

This latest ruling is further proof that we need to end the judicial crisis
and place the men and women of distinction that President Bush has
nominated on the bench. While the president continues to nominate
responsible jurists, Democrats in the Senate continue to play partisan
games with our courts.

Billy R. Beasley

Kihei