September 21, 2007

The American Humanist Association announced this afternoon that analysis by constitutional legal scholar Mel Lipman shows that the Nebraska court filing--allegedly received miraculously from God by the District Court of Douglas County, Nebraska, on September 18--cannot be authentic.

"Any god worthy of his divinity would have access to the best lawyers in the universe," Lipman declared. "Yet this court filing is sophomoric. If one of my students turned in something like this, I'd grade it with an F."

Lipman, who is president of the American Humanist Association, is also a Las Vegas attorney who teaches constitutional law at the Nevada campus of the University of Phoenix and a former board member of the Nevada Civil Liberties Union. Additionally, he is a humanist minister who is a member of the Las Vegas Interfaith Council.

"The dead giveaway that the document doesn't bear any fingerprint of cosmic authority is found right up front, in its very purpose of challenging the court's jurisdiction," Lipman added. "The courts have jurisdiction over anyone who commits an act in the jurisdiction. Moreover, Nebraska State Senator Ernie Chambers had already addressed this in his initial petition of September 14 when he declared that the District Court of Douglas County, Nebraska, has jurisdiction 'by virtue of the fact that Defendant, being Omnipresent, is personally present in Douglas County'."

Lipman then took on the first numbered reason given for alleged lack of jurisdiction, which reads: "No proper and sufficient service of summons has been had upon GOD." Lipman argued, "Chambers addressed this as well, pointing out that God, being 'Omniscient', is all-knowing and thus 'shall be deemed to have actual knowledge of this action'. Therefore, he doesn't require service of summons."

But Lipman saved his strongest refutation for the third numbered reason in the document: "GOD does not issue terroristic threats, but HE will visit an appropriate punishment upon the blasphemous Complainant by seeing that he is removed from office next year."

Lipman noted strongly, "In all legal matters, only the courts may assign punishment or give sentence. Therefore, no proper legal filing may contain a threat or promise of punishment by any party against any other party."

Regarding this, some in the news media have suggested that this wording shows God's sense of humor, since term limits will already conclude Chambers' term.

"This argument won't save it," Lipman determined. "Humorous items aren't permitted in court documents. Therefore, the presence of this third reason, alone, renders the whole filing improper, to be rejected on its face."

Summing up his overall conclusion, Lipman declared authoritatively, "If there is a god, this document cannot be his handiwork. Therefore, this 'Special Appearance' challenge in Omaha, Nebraska, must now take its place alongside other prominent hoaxes, such as the Jesus family ossuaries, the Shroud of Turin, and the Virgin Mary grilled cheese sandwich."

To read the full text of the alleged filing by God, DOC. 1075, NO. 462, go to www.americanhumanist.org/press/goddoc.pdf.

The American Humanist Association (www.americanhumanist.org) is the oldest and largest Humanist organization in the nation. The AHA is dedicated to ensuring a voice for those with a positive outlook, based on reason and experience, which embraces all of humanity.