For now, Illinois' Moment of Silence law is out of commission -- but it may soon have another day in court. A federal judge struck down the law as unconstitutional, saying it crossed the line of separation of church and state. According to the Associated Press, Judge Robert Gettleman sided with the ACLU, who claimed the law was "a thinly disguised effort to bring religion into the schools."
David Smith of the Illinois Family Institute disagrees, calling the law harmless. "The law did not promote a particular religion or the acknowledgement of God," he notes. "All it did was gave the students a moment to reflect silently on the day or to pray."
He adds that the law has quite a history. "This law was initially vetoed by Governor Blagojevich," he points out. "And it came back to the General Assembly here in Springfield, Illinois, and the lawmakers overwhelmingly overrid [sic] the governor's veto."
Smith contends the law is very popular among the voters of Illinois. Attorney General Lisa Madigan is contemplating an appeal.