A federal appeals court has recently opened the door for a Louisiana law mandating the display of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms. This decision overturns a lower court’s injunction and sparks a renewed discussion about the role of religion in education.
The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals voted 12-6 to remove the previous block, indicating that it’s premature to assess the law’s constitutionality at this stage.
Opponents argue that this law breaches the separation between church and state, while proponents claim that the Ten Commandments hold historical significance and are foundational to U.S. law.
The court’s majority opinion pointed out ambiguity regarding how schools should exhibit the materials, noting that the law permits other historical texts, including the Mayflower Compact and the Declaration of Independence, to accompany the Ten Commandments.
The justices suggested that there wasn’t enough concrete information to allow for a definitive judicial evaluation of First Amendment implications.
Judge James Ho, a Trump appointee, concurred, asserting in his opinion that the law aligns with the constitutional framework and reflects the nation’s foundational beliefs.
He stated, “This law is fully consistent with the Constitution and further strengthens our founding belief that America’s children should be educated in our nation’s religious foundations and traditions,” emphasizing the law’s affirmation of moral heritage.
In contrast, Judge James L. Dennis, who was appointed by Bill Clinton, expressed dissent, arguing that placing the Ten Commandments in classrooms could lead to children being exposed to government-endorsed religion in settings where attendance is mandatory.
He remarked, “That is exactly the kind of establishment that the framers anticipated and sought to prevent.”
The ACLU of Louisiana and other advocacy groups representing the plaintiffs plan to pursue additional legal action to challenge this law. They expressed disappointment at the ruling, stating, “Today’s ruling is deeply disappointing and unnecessarily forces Louisiana public school families to play a constitutional game of whack-a-mole in every school district.” They also noted that precedent dictates that individuals do not need to endure the harm they seek to prevent before taking legal action.
Governor Jeff Landry of Louisiana lauded the court’s decision, proclaiming on social media that “Common sense is returning!”
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill responded to the ruling by stating that public schools must adhere to the law, explaining that fundamental commandments like “thou shalt not kill” and “thou shalt not steal” should not be a source of controversy.
Joseph Davis, an attorney for Louisiana, echoed support for the court’s decision, stating, “If the ACLU has its way, all traces of religion will be removed from our public life. That position is contrary to our nation’s traditions and our Constitution. We are pleased that the Fifth Circuit has allowed the display of the Ten Commandments in Louisiana public school classrooms.”
This latest ruling follows a prior judgment from a three-judge panel deeming the Louisiana law unconstitutional, after which the full court agreed to reassess the case.
Meanwhile, a similar law in Arkansas is under challenge in federal court, and Texas introduced its own Ten Commandments requirement for classrooms last year.
