Judge allows moment of silence to stand

ALEXANDRIA, Va.—A Virginia judge ruled Aug. 31 that public school students can continue observing a moment of silence until he makes a final decision on whether a new law regarding the matter is constitutional.

“This Virginia statute… permits a student to do whatever he wants as long as he remain silent,” said U.S. District Judge Claude M. Hilton at a hearing in Alexandria. “Whatever bit of coercion could possibly be, there is not going to be irreparable harm between now and when I resolve this case.”

The judge set a hearing on the merits of the case for Sept. 8, The Washington Post reported.

Stuart H. Newberger, a D.C. lawyer representing 10 students and their families for the American Civil Liberties Union, had requested a temporary injunction in the case. He now plans to seek and emergency injunction from the 4^th Circuit Court of Appeals until Hilton completes the case.