Federal Judge Blocks Louisiana Law Requiring Ten Commandments in Public School Classrooms

A federal judge in Louisiana has temporarily blocked a state law that mandated the display of the Ten Commandments in every public school classroom. The ruling, issued by U.S. District Judge John W. deGravelles on Tuesday, declared the law “unconstitutional on its face and in every application”.

The law, known as HB 71, was passed by Louisiana state legislators earlier this year and was set to be implemented on January 1. It required public schools, from kindergarten to the collegiate level, to display the Ten Commandments on a poster or framed document that is at least 11 inches by 14 inches. The posters were also to include a three-paragraph statement highlighting the historical significance of the Ten Commandments in American education.

A multi-faith group of Louisiana families with children in public schools filed a lawsuit against the state, arguing that the law violates the First Amendment rights of students and the separation of church and state. The plaintiffs, representing Unitarian Universalist, Jewish, atheist, Presbyterian, and nonreligious families, contended that the law improperly pressures students into religious participation.

Judge deGravelles, appointed by President Barack Obama, noted that the law is “coercive to students” because they could not avoid exposure to the Ten Commandments, which would be present in every classroom throughout their education. He suggested that the state could pursue its interest in educating students about the Ten Commandments through less intrusive means.

Louisiana’s Attorney General Liz Murrill expressed strong disagreement with the decision and announced plans for an immediate appeal. Supporters of the law argue that the Ten Commandments have historical significance and are not solely religious texts, but the ruling aligns with a U.S. Supreme Court precedent that invalidated a similar Kentucky law in 1980.

This legal battle is part of a broader trend of conservative-backed efforts to incorporate Christianity or religion into classrooms across the country. Similar legal challenges are ongoing in other states, such as Oklahoma and Florida, where policies involving religious education and counseling are being contested.