Court Blocks Louisiana Law Requiring Schools to Post Ten Commandments in Classrooms

Introduction to the Case

A panel of three federal appellate judges has ruled that a Louisiana law requiring the Ten Commandments to be posted in each of the state’s public school classrooms is unconstitutional. The ruling marked a major win for civil liberties groups who say the mandate violates the separation of church and state, and that the poster-sized displays would isolate students — especially those who are not Christian.

Background and Arguments

The mandate has been touted by Republicans, including President Trump, and marks one of the latest pushes by conservatives to incorporate religion into classrooms. Backers of the law argue the Ten Commandments belong in classrooms because they are historical and part of the foundation of U.S. law. However, opponents argue that this is a clear violation of the Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution, which says Congress can “make no law respecting an establishment of religion.”

Legal Proceedings and Ruling

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals’ order stems from a lawsuit filed last year by parents of Louisiana schoolchildren from various religious backgrounds, who said the law violates 1st Amendment language guaranteeing religious liberty and forbidding government establishment of religion. The mandate was signed into law last June by Republican Gov. Jeff Landry. The court’s ruling backs an order issued last fall by U.S. District Judge John deGravelles, who declared the mandate unconstitutional and ordered state education officials not to take steps to enforce it and to notify all local school boards in the state of his decision.

Implications and Future Actions

The plaintiffs’ attorneys and Louisiana disagreed on whether the appeals court’s decision applied to every public school district in the state or only the districts party to the lawsuit. “All school districts in the state are bound to comply with the U.S. Constitution,” said Liz Hayes, a spokesperson for Americans United for Separation of Church and State, which served as co-counsel for the plaintiffs. Louisiana Atty. Gen. Liz Murrill said she disagreed and believed the ruling applied only to school districts in the five parishes that were party to the lawsuit and that she would seek to appeal the ruling.

Historical Context and Similar Cases

Law experts have long said they expect the Louisiana case to make its way to the U.S. Supreme Court, testing the conservative court on the issue of religion and government. In 1980, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a similar Kentucky law violated the Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution. In 2005, the Supreme Court held that such displays in a pair of Kentucky courthouses violated the Constitution. At the same time, the court upheld a Ten Commandments marker on the grounds of the Texas state Capitol in Austin.

Conclusion

The ruling by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is a significant development in the ongoing debate about the role of religion in public schools. It underscores the importance of the separation of church and state and the need to protect the religious liberty of all students. As the case may proceed to the U.S. Supreme Court, it will be closely watched by civil liberties groups, religious organizations, and legal scholars across the country.

FAQs

• Q: What was the ruling by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals?
  • A: The court ruled that a Louisiana law requiring the Ten Commandments to be posted in public school classrooms is unconstitutional.
• Q: Why did the plaintiffs argue against the law?
  • A: They argued that the law violates the 1st Amendment by promoting the establishment of religion and infringing upon religious liberty.
• Q: What is the potential next step in this legal case?
  • A: The case may be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, which would decide on the constitutionality of posting the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms.
• Q: How does this case relate to previous Supreme Court rulings?
  • A: The case is part of a broader legal discussion about the separation of church and state, similar to previous cases in Kentucky and Texas regarding the display of the Ten Commandments in public spaces.