Charlotte, USA - A judge threw out a lawsuit aimed at allowing texts other than the Bible for courtroom oaths, saying the state chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union lacked legal standing to file.
Superior Court Judge Donald Smith of Raleigh revealed his decision to lawyers, with a written ruling to follow.
In its suit, the ACLU chapter said it acted on behalf of members statewide who prefer to swear courtroom oaths on other religious texts. No plaintiff was specified but the ACLU later named Greensboro Muslim Syidah Mateen, saying she was blocked from swearing on the Quran during a 2003 court hearing.
Smith ruled there was no pending instance of someone prohibited from using a text other than a Bible, an ACLU lawyer said, but an appeal or a future lawsuit was likely.
North Carolina law allows witnesses to take their oath either by laying a hand over a "Holy Scripture," by saying "so help me God" without a religious book or by using no religious references. However, two Guilford County judges said only the Bible could be used.