On the recordMarch 31, 1998
I had the very great honor to serve as a law clerk to Mr. Justice White on the United States Supreme Court. And every day when we opened argument, the Supreme Court began in the following manner: "Oyez, oyez, oyez. All persons having business before the honorable, the Supreme Court of the United States are admonished to draw near and give their attention, for the Court is now sitting. God save the United States and this honorable court." Now, if those exact same words were said by a high school valedictorian in her commencement address, I take it that at least some Federal judge would say, "Impermissible because you have asked God's blessing on government's property." It must be remarkably ironic for the Supreme Court to deal with this issue, knowing that the very day they began the argument they invoked God's blessing on their proceedings.
Source
govinfo.gov
