A federal judge has made a big decision. They have stopped a Louisiana law that would have put the Ten Commandments in all public schools. U.S. District Judge John W. deGravelles said the law breaks the First Amendment’s rules.
The law was signed by Louisiana’s Republican Governor Jeff Landry in June. It was meant to start on January 1, 2025. It would have put up big posters of the Ten Commandments in every classroom and at state universities.
The judge’s order stops the law from being enforced. It also tells the state’s Attorney General to tell schools about the change. The Attorney General, Liz Murrill, plans to challenge this decision. She will take it to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans.
Major Highlights
- A federal judge has blocked a Louisiana law that would have required public schools to display the Ten Commandments.
- The judge ruled the law unconstitutional, citing violations of the First Amendment’s establishment clause.
- The law was set to take effect on January 1, 2025, and would have applied to all public K-12 classrooms and state-funded universities.
- Louisiana’s Attorney General plans to appeal the decision, but the ruling prohibits the law from being enforced for now.
- The lawsuit was brought by parents of Louisiana public school students, represented by civil rights groups like the ACLU.
The Controversial Ten Commandments Law in Louisiana Public Schools
Louisiana has made a big move by becoming the first U.S. state to require the Ten Commandments in public schools. The new law, HB 71, says all public K-12 classrooms and state-funded universities must show 11-inch by 14-inch posters of the Ten Commandments. These posters need to be big and easy to read.
Mandatory Display Requirements and Specifications
Schools can use private donations to pay for these posters. They must be shown in every classroom, library, and cafeteria. Schools have until the 2025 school year to start following this rule.
Religious Purpose and Constitutional Concerns
Supporters say the law brings back a historical tradition. Representative Dodie Horton says it’s to show “God’s law” in classrooms. But, many are worried it could break the rule of separating church and state.
Implementation Timeline and Affected Institutions
This law will affect all public schools in Louisiana. But, the Attorney General says it only applies to five districts. The ACLU is ready to fight this, saying it breaks the law about church and state.
As the deadline gets closer, the legal fight and its effects on schools will keep getting attention.
– Representative Dodie Horton, sponsor of the Ten Commandments law in Louisiana
Legal Challenges and Judicial Response
The fight over Louisiana’s Ten Commandments law in public schools has reached a key moment. A federal judge has made a strong ruling against the law. The American Civil Liberties Union, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and the Freedom From Religion Foundation were on the case. They argued that the law broke the First Amendment’s free exercise and establishment clauses.
Judge Shelly deGravelles ruled that the law is “unconstitutional on its face and in every application.” He rejected the state’s claims about the law’s historical value. This decision highlights the ongoing debate about religious displays in schools and the balance between church and state.
Another lawsuit, filed by Christopher Dier, an American history teacher, is waiting in federal court in New Orleans. This shows the complex legal issues at play. The ruling is a reminder of the judiciary’s role in protecting the constitution and education systems in Australia and elsewhere.
