10.31.2007

Strike One...

By Shawn Healy

The Silent Reflection and Student Prayer Act survived its first challenge in federal court on Monday when US District Judge Rob Gettlemen refused to issue an injunction to prevent implementation of a mandatory moment of silence in Illinois public schools. Gettlemen wrote that the "balance of harm does not favor the plaintiff at this moment."

The case is by no means closed, however. Judge Gettlemen has "some serious questions" about the title of the act and potential abuses stemming from it. The plaintiff, atheist activist Rob Sherman, promises an amended lawsuit. The challenge for him will be to identify the proper defendants, as school district board members and a homeroom teacher did not suffice. Gettlemen suggested the state board of education or the Governor's office.

Stay tuned for the next pitch...

0 Comments:

SHAWN HEALY

Managing Director

McCormick Freedom Project

Shawn is responsible for overseeing and managing the operations associated with the McCormick Freedom Project. Additionally, he serves as the in house content expert and voice of museum through public speaking and original scholarship. Before joining the Freedom Project, he taught American Government, Economics, American History, and Chicago History at Community High School in West Chicago, IL and Sheboygan North High School in Wisconsin.

Shawn is a doctoral candidate within the Political Science Department at the University of Illinois at Chicago where he received his MA in Political Science. He is a 2001 James Madison Fellow from the State of Wisconsin and holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science, History, and Secondary Education from the University of Wisconsin at Madison.

Subscribe to
Posts [Atom]

About Fanning the Flames and the McCormick Freedom Project

Fanning the Flames is a blog of the McCormick Freedom Project, which was started in 2006 by museum managing director Shawn Healy. The blog highlights the news of the day, in hopes of engaging readers in dialogue about freedom issues. Any views or opinions expressed on this blog represent those of the writers alone and do not represent an official opinion of the McCormick Freedom Project.

Founded in 2005, the McCormick Freedom Project is part of the McCormick Foundation. The Freedom Project’s mission is to enable informed and engaged participation in our democracy by demonstrating the relevance of the First Amendment and the role it plays in the ongoing struggle to define and defend freedom. The museum offers programs and resources for teachers, students, and the general public.

First Amendment journalism initiative

The Freedom Project recently launched a new reporting initiative with professional journalists Tim McNulty and Jamie Loo. The goal is to expand and promote the benefits of lifelong civic engagement among citizens of all ages, through original reporting, commentary and news aggregation on First Amendment and freedom issues. Please visit the McCormick Freedom Project's news Web site, The Post-Exchange at

www.freedomproject.us/post-exchange