US District Judge Robert W. Gettleman Wednesday held unconstitutional an Illinois statute that requires public schools to observe a daily moment of silence. The state law known as the Illinois Silent Reflection and Student Prayer Act gives the students time to reflect or pray at the beginning of the school day. Talk show host Rob Sherman and his high school age daughter Dawn filed the lawsuit, and the American Civil Liberties Union and other opponents of the law claimed it coerced students to pray in schools.
Lisa Madigan, the Illinois Attorney General, is reviewing the decision, but it is not clear whether she will file an appeal.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090122/ap_on_re_us/moment_of_silence_1
Tags: Illinois Silent Reflection and Student Prayer Act, Prayer in school
