A federal appeals court has cleared the way for a controversial Louisiana law requiring poster-sized displays of the Ten Commandments in every public school classroom. The US Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals voted 12-6 on Friday to lift a preliminary injunction that had blocked the law, which was previously found unconstitutional by a lower court.
The majority opinion stated that it was premature to decide on the law's constitutionality because it had not yet taken effect. The judges noted insufficient facts to permit a judicial judgment, as it remains unclear how prominently schools will display the religious text or whether teachers will refer to it during classes. The court had reconsidered the case after three judges ruled in June that the law was unconstitutional.
Louisiana became the first state in 2024 to require the Ten Commandments in classrooms, sparking fierce debate over religious freedoms and the separation of church and state. The law mandates that the text be the central focus of a poster or framed document at least 11 by 14 inches in every public school and university classroom.
Opponents, including parents from multi-faith backgrounds, argue the law violates the First Amendment's guarantee of religious liberty and prohibition of government establishment of religion. The ACLU of Louisiana called the decision 'disgraceful and deeply harmful,' vowing further legal challenges. The Freedom From Religion Foundation described the ruling as 'extremely disappointing,' warning it forces families into a 'constitutional whack-a-mole' against each school district's displays.
Proponents, including Louisiana's Republican Governor Jeff Landry, praised the decision. Landry wrote on Facebook that 'common sense is making a comeback.' Attorney General Liz Murrill said schools should 'follow the law' and had sent correct examples of the required poster. Similar laws have been challenged in other states, including Arkansas.
