Chicago ? A federal judge on Monday declined to block a suburban school district from holding a moment of silence as newly mandated by Illinois law but indicated a willingness to weigh the merits of the Silent Reflection and Student Prayer Act on a statewide scale.

U.S. District Judge Robert Gettleman said he has “some serious questions” about the statute that requires schools to pause at the start of classes each day.

“Let there be no mistake about that,” he said, expressing concern with the act.

In a lawsuit filed last week, atheist activist Rob Sherman sought a temporary restraining order to block the moment of silence in Township High School District 214, the state’s second-largest district, and specifically at Buffalo Grove High School. Sherman’s daughter, Dawn, attends the school.

Critics have called the statute unconstitutional and a fairly blatant attempt to bring organized prayer to the public classroom. Sponsors of the measure have sought to blunt that argument by saying the moment can be used for any reflection, including prayer.

Legislators earlier this month overrode a veto by Gov. Rod Blagojevich, and schools around the state have begun stopping for the moment of silence.