Federal Judge Orders Texas Schools to Remove Ten Commandments Displays

Conroe, Texas — A federal judge has ordered several Texas school districts to remove displays of the Ten Commandments from classrooms, deeming the requirement unconstitutional. Judge Orlando L. Garcia issued the preliminary injunction on November 18, 2025, in response to a lawsuit that challenges the legality of Senate Bill 10, a state law mandating such displays.

The lawsuit was filed by families from diverse religious backgrounds, including agnostics, atheists, Christians, and Jews, who argue that the law violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. Garcia expressed concern about the impact on students, stating, “It would be impractical, if not impossible, to prevent Plaintiffs from being subjected to unwelcome religious displays” if the law were enforced.

The injunction requires affected school districts to remove the Ten Commandments displays by December 1. Although the ruling applies only to these specific districts, members of the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas (ACLU) are urging all Texas schools to refrain from implementing SB 10.

Daniel Mach, director of the ACLU Program on Freedom of Religion and Belief, celebrated the decision as a victory for religious freedom. “Once again, a federal court has recognized that the Constitution bars public schools from forcing religious scripture on students,” he said.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has defended the law and announced he intends to appeal the ruling. He has also initiated lawsuits against two school districts for not complying with the law. In a statement, Paxton emphasized the importance of displaying the Ten Commandments, stating that schools should respect the “legal and moral heritage of our state.”

The case is one of several legal battles regarding similar laws in other states, including Arkansas and Louisiana, where courts have also ruled against mandatory religious displays in schools.