(Atlanta - June 28, 2002) Attorney General Thurbert Baker, in a letter hand-delivered to the state Department of Education and state School Superintendent Linda Schrenko, stated that the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals decision declaring the Pledge of Allegiance unconstitutional would have no bearing on schoolchildren in Georgia.

Attorney General Baker, in his letter, sought to reassure local school districts and parents that the ruling was not binding on Georgia. Further, Baker went on to state that he firmly believed the decision was "an erroneous decision" that would be reversed on appeal.

Baker called on the Department of Education and Superintendent Schrenko to pass this advice on to any school districts that were uncertain of the legal impact of the ruling or were concerned about their ability to continue to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.