Federal Judge Blocks State's Law Requiring 10 Commandments Displayed In Classrooms
A federal judge has temporarily blocked a new Louisiana law requiring the display of the Ten Commandments in every public classroom by Jan. 1, deeming it "unconstitutional on its face."
Judge John W. deGravelles of the U.S. District Court in Baton Rouge stated that the law serves an "overtly religious" purpose and dismissed state officials' argument that the Ten Commandments are a historical foundation of U.S. law. He pointed out that the law does not mandate the display of other foundational documents, like the Constitution or the Bill of Rights.
In issuing a preliminary injunction, deGravelles indicated that opponents of the law are likely to succeed in their lawsuit. The plaintiffs argue that the requirement violates the First Amendment, which prohibits government establishment of religion and protects freedom of religious expression. They contend that displaying the Ten Commandments could alienate students who aren’t Christian.
The judge noted that the law constitutes unconstitutional government religious coercion, stating, "Parents are legally required to send their minor children to school and ensure attendance for at least 177 days each year."
Supporters of the law argue that it highlights the historical significance of the Ten Commandments in U.S. legal foundations rather than promoting religion.
The plaintiffs are parents of children in Louisiana’s public schools. The legislation, passed by Louisiana’s GOP-majority legislature in the predominantly Republican state, has been championed by Republican officials including Governor Jeff Landry and Attorney General Elizabeth Murrill, as well as President-elect Donald Trump.
This Louisiana law reflects a broader trend, with similar conservative efforts to bring religious elements into classrooms, including recent bills in other states requiring displays of the Ten Commandments. Some states, like Florida and Oklahoma, have proposed legislation allowing religious instruction or activities in schools.
Efforts to enforce similar measures in states like Texas, Oklahoma, and Utah have not moved forward due to legal concerns. In a landmark 1980 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a Kentucky law mandating the display of the Ten Commandments in schools, finding it lacked a secular purpose and violated the First Amendment's Establishment Clause, which prohibits government endorsement of religion.
Louisiana’s law applies to all K-12 public schools and state-funded universities, requiring an 11x14-inch display of the Ten Commandments with a four-paragraph "context statement" explaining their historic role in American education. Though proponents say schools aren’t required to use public funds for the posters, the legislation anticipates donations from private groups or individuals.
