"The United States Constitution plainly protects young Texans' right to observe a moment of silence before school each morning," Attorney General Abbott said.
-- From "Federal appeals court upholds Texas' `moment of silence' law" by Sam Hodges, The Dallas Morning News 3/16/09
AUSTIN - The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit today upheld Texas' Moment of Silence law. As the state's lawyer, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott defended young Texans' right to begin each school day with the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence. The Attorney General maintained that the 2003 statute is constitutional. Last month, Solicitor General James Ho appeared before the Fifth Circuit to defend the law during oral argument.
Texas schools begin each morning with a minute of silence for students to "reflect, pray, meditate, or engage in any other silent activity." A North Texas couple filed a lawsuit challenging the law, but that challenge was rejected by a federal district court. Today's Fifth Circuit decision affirmed the lower court's ruling and once again rejected the plaintiffs' legal challenge.
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