Judge refuses to block 'moment of silence'

CHICAGO, Oct. 30 (UPI) -- A federal judge has refused to block Illinois' "moment of silence" law but says a parent can proceed with a lawsuit.

Illinois lawmakers voted overwhelmingly this year to change the state's 38-year-old voluntary moment of silence to a mandatory moment. Students at Buffalo Grove High School in northwest suburban Chicago observed the mandatory moment of silence Tuesday, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.

The new state law is called the "Silent Reflection and Student Prayer Act."

Rob Sherman, an atheist, Monday asked U.S. District Judge Robert Gettleman to stop the moment of silence on behalf of his daughter, Dawn, 14, a student at Buffalo Grove.

Gettleman refused to block Tuesday's moment of silence but said Sherman could proceed with a lawsuit against his daughter's school district and Gov. Rod Blagojevich.