A federal appellate court has declared a Louisiana law requiring the Ten Commandments to be displayed in all public school classrooms as unconstitutional.
This decision was made by a panel of three judges on Friday, marking a significant victory for civil liberties advocates who argue that the mandate contravenes the principle of separation of church and state.
The ruling raises concerns for students of differing faiths who may feel excluded by the prominent displays of religious texts.
Supporters of the law, including Republican lawmakers and President Donald Trump, have argued that the Ten Commandments serve an important historical role and reflect a foundational aspect of U.S. law.
Heather L. Weaver, a senior staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union, celebrated the ruling, stating, “This is a resounding victory for the separation of church and state and public education.
With today’s ruling, the Fifth Circuit has held Louisiana accountable to a core constitutional promise: Public schools are not Sunday schools, and they must welcome all students, regardless of faith.”
There is some uncertainty regarding the scope of the appeals court’s ruling.
While the plaintiffs and their attorneys argue that the ruling applies to all public schools in Louisiana, state officials, including Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill, maintain that it only affects the school districts involved in the lawsuit.
“All school districts in the state are bound to comply with the U.S. Constitution,” said Liz Hayes, a representative from Americans United for Separation of Church and State, which co-represented the plaintiffs.
Hayes emphasized that the court’s decision is a directive for all Louisiana school districts not to display the Ten Commandments in their classrooms.
Plans for an appeal have already been mentioned by the state’s attorney general, who expressed disagreement with the ruling’s broader implications.
Murrill stated that she might escalate the case to the U.S. Supreme Court if necessary.
The case, originating from a lawsuit filed last year, included parents from various religious backgrounds who contended that the law violated the First Amendment’s guarantees of religious liberty and the prohibition of government establishment of religion.
This ruling follows an earlier order from U.S. District Judge John deGravelles, who had previously indicated the law was unconstitutional and directed state education officials not to enforce it.
In June, the mandate was signed into law by Republican Governor Jeff Landry, who later expressed his support for the appeal efforts.
Landry defended the law by stating, “The Ten Commandments are the foundation of our laws — serving both an educational and historical purpose in our classrooms.”
Legal experts anticipate that Louisiana’s case will likely reach the U.S. Supreme Court, raising critical questions about the relationship between religion and government.
Similar legislative measures have faced legal challenges in other states.
Recently, families in Arkansas initiated a federal lawsuit against a nearly identical law passed in their state.
Additionally, a comparable bill in Texas is awaiting the signature of Governor Greg Abbott.
Notably, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1980 that a Kentucky law mandating the posting of the Ten Commandments in public schools violated the Establishment Clause of the Constitution, concluding that the law served no secular purpose but instead had a blatantly religious intention.
The Court also decided in 2005 that posting religious displays, including the Ten Commandments, in Kentucky courthouses was unconstitutional; however, it allowed a Ten Commandments marker at the Texas state Capitol in Austin.
As the debate continues, this ruling serves as a crucial indicator of the ongoing tension between religious expression and public education in the United States.
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