Louisiana’s Ten Commandments School Law Halted: What’s the Controversy?

Stone tablet with the Ten Commandments engraved.

A federal judge recently blocked Louisiana’s law requiring the Ten Commandments to be displayed in public school classrooms, intensifying the church-state separation debate.

At a Glance

  • The law for displaying the Ten Commandments in Louisiana schools has been blocked.
  • Judge John deGravelles ruled the law unconstitutional due to its religious purpose.
  • The decision stops promotion or rules related to the law during litigation.
  • Attorney General Elizabeth Murrill will appeal, asserting the law’s constitutionality.

Judge Blocks Louisiana’s Ten Commandments Law

Louisiana’s attempt to display the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms encountered a legal roadblock. U.S. District Judge John deGravelles ruled the law unconstitutional, halting its January enactment due to constitutional concerns. This law, proposed by Republicans and signed by Governor Jeff Landry, describes the Ten Commandments as foundational for governance.

The ruling, praised by plaintiffs and the ACLU, prevents Louisiana from implementing or creating rules related to the law while ongoing litigation evaluates its legal standing.

Immediate Appeal Planned

Louisiana Attorney General Elizabeth Murrill announced plans to appeal Judge deGravelles’ decision, maintaining confidence in the law’s constitutionality. Murrill’s position challenges critics who argue the law infringes on the separation of church and state. This legal tussle brings attention to a broader discourse on religion’s place in public education.

Governor Landry’s endorsement of the law reflects a broader effort in GOP-led states like Texas, Oklahoma, and Utah to legislate similar measures. Critics insist that public schools should remain inclusive, neutral spaces.

Historical Context and Legal Precedents

Louisiana’s legislation mandated the Ten Commandments be displayed in classrooms, describing them as pivotal to American education’s history. This approach isn’t entirely unprecedented; the U.S. Supreme Court ruled a similar Kentucky law unconstitutional in 1980.

Despite its intended non-funding requirement, with posters funded through donations, the law’s religious underpinning poses a challenge to maintaining secular educational environments. The appeal will be heard by the conservative-leaning 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, a setting poised to further influence the ongoing debate around religious symbolism in public spaces.

Sources:

Federal judge blocks Louisiana Ten Commandments law

US judge blocks Louisiana from requiring Ten Commandments in classrooms

Federal judge blocks Louisiana law that requires classrooms to display Ten Commandments

Federal judge blocks state law ordering Ten Commandments to be displayed in classrooms

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