"Moment of silence" tossed out in Illinois

A U.S. District Court judge in Illinois has struck down the state's "moment of silence" law, ruling that it was too coercive and crossed the First Amendment line that bars government from establishing a religion. Judge Robert W. Gettleman issued a permanent injunction banning enforcement of the law. He concluded that forcing students to use the time for prayer or silent reflection amounted to a tacit endorsement of prayer. The law has not been in effect since May 2008, when Gettleman blocked its enforcement. The law had been challenged by Robert Sherman and his daughter Dawn Sherman, who attends Buffalo Grove High School.