Performance Of The Week

  • Arguing before the Supreme Court that the phrase "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance violates the separation of church and state, DR. MICHAEL NEWDOW did a pretty good job for a nonpracticing lawyer. The physician and atheist, who brought the original suit (a California court ruled in his favor), sparred ably with the Justices and even drew applause at one point — before Chief Justice William Rehnquist threatened to clear the courtroom.