About this Case
The state of Illinois amended its Moment of Silence law, changing it from optional to mandatory for public schools to observe a moment of silence. The parent of a student sued, alleging the new statute violated the Establishment Clause. The federal district agreed and ruled in the parent’s favor. The defendants—a school district and the state Superintendent of Education appealed to the Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.
Summary of NLF's Brief
We filed a friend-of-the-court brief expanding upon two arguments the defendants had made and adding two arguments the defendants had not made, all of which pointed out logical flaws with the district court’s opinion. The Seventh Circuit reversed the district court, holding that the new Moment of Silence law was constitutional.