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'In God We Trust' lawsuit coming to DePauw Oct. 14

Saturday, October 4, 2008

A high-profile case involving Indiana's "In God We Trust" license plate will bring the Indiana Court of Appeals to DePauw University on Tuesday, Oct. 14.

As part of its outreach efforts, the Court will hear oral arguments in the case of Mark Studler v. Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles at 10 a.m. in Walden Inn Social Center. Members of the DePauw University and Putnam County communities are invited to attend. Normal courtroom rules of decorum will apply.

Studler "is challenging Indiana Code section 9-18-24.5-1, which authorizes a speciality license plate featuring an 'In God We Trust' design," notes a summary of the case. "The Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles offers the 'In God We Trust' plate at no additional charge. Studler, who paid a $40 administrative fee to obtain an environmental specialty plate, contended that providing the 'In God We Trust' plate for no fee violates Article I, section 23 of the Indiana Constitution. Both parties filed motions for summary judgment in the trial court; Studler's motion was denied and the BMV's motion was granted as a final judgment. Studler appeals the grant of summary judgment to the BMV."

A three-judge panel of Michael P. Barnes, Margret G. Robb and Terry A. Crone (DePauw '74) will hear the case. Each side will each be given 20 minutes to argue their case. After the hearing, the public will have an opportunity to ask questions of the judges. The Indiana Court of Appeals regularly holds oral arguments in communities across Indiana in an effort to bring the workings of the judicial system closer to the people it serves.

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  • All specialty plates should cost the same. Making some free and charging for others is not right. I have never been pushed to get any specialty plate other than IGWT, which was pushed on me pretty hard.

    -- Posted by Geologist on Sat, Oct 4, 2008, at 5:38 AM

  • If noone wants to pay for the specialty plates than they can get the regular ol' plates. Heaven forbid someone dosent fit in. I firmly believe that if the BMV wants to give one plate free of charge than thats their choice. Get over yourselves people and quit being cheap

    -- Posted by joey_cope on Sat, Oct 4, 2008, at 9:26 AM

  • I'm willing to bet that if these plates cost anywhere near the same as most of the other speciality plates, over half of the folks that have them WOULDN'T.

    Is it "In God We Trust" or "In free we'll take?"

    -- Posted by formerhick on Sat, Oct 4, 2008, at 10:04 AM

  • The state is offering a choice between two plates. Why is it a big deal.If it had said something about basketball on it we would not be having this discussion.

    -- Posted by mad-mom on Sat, Oct 4, 2008, at 10:06 AM

  • well if the plates offend him, then he needs not to complain, rather then look back in the history books, because that is what the four fathers founded this country on, if " in god we trust" isnt what he believes, then he can go to canada. you can print this if you want to, this is from a soldier that is fighting for his right to say this!!!!!!

    -- Posted by lleonard47 on Sat, Oct 4, 2008, at 11:40 AM

  • Geez.. sounds to me like Mark Studler has WAY too much time & money on his hands! This is silly! I chose the 'in God we trust" becuase I LOVE it and I didn't pay extra for it either! it is an indiana liscence plate. you don't have to pay extra for it - you have the choice to choose the 'in God we Trust' or the plain jane blue ugly one!

    Get a LIFE Mark!

    -- Posted by luv2bmom2001 on Sat, Oct 4, 2008, at 12:03 PM

  • Specialty plates, such as environmental, have fees that support the causes. "In God We Trust" plates do not support any cause; thus - no fee. They are simply an expression of FAITH, and I have one.

    -- Posted by Hobohill on Sat, Oct 4, 2008, at 1:37 PM

  • 3 words Studler....GET A LIFE !!!!

    -- Posted by calcans1 on Sat, Oct 4, 2008, at 6:41 PM

  • Article I, Section 23 of the Indiana Constitution:

    "The General Assembly shall not grant to any citizen, or class of citizens, privileges or immunities, which, upon the same terms, shall not equally belong to all citizens."

    The way I read it, the plates are authorized by the Constitution.

    -- Posted by hoop2077 on Sat, Oct 4, 2008, at 8:12 PM

  • maybe he should look at the money he buys he life with. last time i check "in god we trust" is there too. sad man.... very sad man.

    -- Posted by ibeme on Sun, Oct 5, 2008, at 4:39 AM

  • If any specialty plate is free, they all should be free. Either that or let us choose from religious plates for all forms, not just Christianity. How about free plates for Buddhists, Muslims, Druids, Atheists...? Why do all of us get to choose from only one form? We are free to say what we want by the constitution.

    -- Posted by Geologist on Sun, Oct 5, 2008, at 7:25 AM

  • If Article I, Section 23 of the Indiana Constitution says "The General Assembly shall not grant to any citizen, or class of citizens, privileges or immunities, which, upon the same terms, shall not equally belong to all citizens", then they are violating that Article by offering this plate to only one religious group and not all the rest. The plates are only "authorized by the constitution" if the right to express one's religious beliefs equally belongs to all citizens, which this clearly does not. There is no plate available for non-Christians.

    -- Posted by Geologist on Sun, Oct 5, 2008, at 7:33 AM

  • you don't have to buy a plate . Just don't drive.

    get a life

    -- Posted by cmlandscape on Sun, Oct 5, 2008, at 8:15 AM

  • There is a plate for non- Christians, it says nothing on it. By the plate saying "In God We Trust" that can pertain to any or all religions, it doesn't say who's God.

    Like ibeme said, the don't complain about the money do they? Is that next. They tried to change the Pledge of Allegiance but couldn't get it done. I hope the plate stay.

    -- Posted by mad-mom on Sun, Oct 5, 2008, at 8:59 AM

  • mad-mom, not all religions refer to the supreme deity as "God".

    -- Posted by nativeillinoisan on Sun, Oct 5, 2008, at 4:32 PM

  • This is why our country is going down the drain. He is why we exist. If you do not believe then go away! This is the only plate, it is not offered to anyone special and that is why it is free. Our country was based on faith and the leaders always had prayer and now it is not allowed. I am so sick of the minority destroying our country. Why don't the minority ALL go to a small country and yes it would be small and live a life without us!

    -- Posted by barrreeve on Sun, Oct 5, 2008, at 8:01 PM

  • barrreeve:

    If you put the non-religious & non-Christian Americans into their own country, it would actually be the 23rd largest country in the world with around 60 million people. Not that small.

    If the country was based on faith, why does the separation of church and state exist?

    -- Posted by nativeillinoisan on Mon, Oct 6, 2008, at 1:31 AM

  • "In God We Trust" is our national Motto. First we're not allowed to say Obama's middle name, now we can't display our national Motto on a license plate?

    This plate is a choice, don't like it, don't CHOOSE it. This is strictly voluntary. No one is being forced. I wonder if the Un-ACLU would have their panties in a bunch if it had "praise allah", or "Jihad" written on it?

    So much for freedom. I served in the military for this?

    -- Posted by VonMises on Mon, Oct 6, 2008, at 10:21 AM

  • As Hobohill said "Specialty plates, such as environmental, have fees that support the causes. "In God We Trust" plates do not support any cause; thus - no fee. "

    End of discussion.

    -- Posted by clearwat on Mon, Oct 6, 2008, at 10:59 AM

  • It's not that they are offending him it is just that he doesn't want to pay for something that actually matters in this world anymore. Alot of people have chosen to slide away from religious figures. He just doesn't want to have to pay $40 for a piece of freakin metal that is required to go on the back of a car. I could understand if you put a special name or saying like HOTTY on your plate. That would be considered special not something of a different colored background on it. He has the right to his opinion so let him have it. Frankly I wouldn't mind a plate with Frisbe's Face on it. With an inscription like "IN FRISBE WE TRUST" That would be a specialty plate.

    -- Posted by WhySoSerious on Mon, Oct 6, 2008, at 7:07 PM

  • Doesn't the extra $40 go to support the organization of the plate you are purchasing? Schools, environment,breast cancer, etc? God doesn't need the money.

    -- Posted by mad-mom on Tue, Oct 7, 2008, at 6:43 AM

  • "A three-judge panel of Michael P. Barnes, Margret G. Robb and Terry A. Crone (DePauw '74) will hear the case. Each side will each be given 20 minutes to argue their case. After the hearing, the public will have an opportunity to ask questions of the judges. The Indiana Court of Appeals regularly holds oral arguments in communities across Indiana in an effort to bring the workings of the judicial system closer to the people it serves."

    It will be interesting to see if any of the anonymous posters here are concerned enough about this to be at the hearing and ask questions or make their feelings known.

    I will be.

    -- Posted by ThinkPeopleThink on Thu, Oct 9, 2008, at 5:56 AM
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