A controversial Louisiana law mandating Ten Commandments displays in schools has been halted by a federal judge, who deemed it “coercive” and “unconstitutional.” This decision comes in response to a lawsuit from nine families arguing that the law promotes a specific religion, conflicting with the First Amendment. Republican Attorney General Liz Murrill, defending the law signed by GOP Gov. Jeff Landry, claims the Ten Commandments are historically significant to U.S. law.
Murrill expressed disagreement with the court’s ruling, announcing plans to appeal. She clarified in a social media post that the decision only affects the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and four parish school boards involved in the lawsuit. “School boards are independently elected, local political subdivisions in Louisiana,” she stated. “Only five school boards are defendants, therefore the judge only has jurisdiction over those five. This is far from over.”
The law requires 11-by-14-inch displays with a contextual statement about the commandments’ educational role, affecting schools receiving state funds, including colleges. Schools need not purchase the displays and can accept donations. U.S. District Judge John deGravelles, appointed by President Obama, suggested in his 177-page opinion that the plaintiffs are likely to win, describing the law as coercive since families must send children to school.
The American Civil Liberties Union praised the ruling as a “victory for religious freedom,” representing non-Christian and nonreligious families. Rachel Laser, of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, emphasized that the ruling allows families to decide their children’s religious engagement. “It should send a strong message to Christian Nationalists across the country that they cannot impose their beliefs on our nation’s public school children. Not on our watch.”
Defendants include Louisiana K-12 Superintendent Cade Brumley, state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education members, and school boards from East Baton Rouge, Livingston, St. Tammany, and Vernon parishes. Plaintiffs argue the law contradicts the Stone vs. Graham precedent, a 1980 Supreme Court decision overturning a similar Kentucky law. Gov. Landry anticipated legal challenges, believing the Supreme Court would support the law, citing inspiration from a 2022 ruling favoring a praying high school football coach in Washington.
This story was produced by the Louisiana Illuminator, part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and donors as a 501c(3) public charity.
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