N.J. judge to rule on "under God" lawsuit

FREEHOLD, N.J. - A judge has heard arguments in a family's lawsuit against a New Jersey school district over the Pledge of Allegiance.

Attorneys argued Wednesday on the Aberdeen Matawan school district's motion to dismiss the lawsuit.

The unidentified family sued this year claiming the pledge discriminates against children with atheist beliefs because it contains the phrase "under God."

The school district says the lawsuit should be dismissed because students aren't required to say the pledge and therefore aren't treated unequally. The family's attorney argued the phrase is offensive to his clients' beliefs.

State Superior Court Judge David Bauman didn't issue a ruling immediately but said he expected to issue one shortly.

The phrase "under God" was written into the Pledge of Allegiance in 1954.