On Friday, a federal appeals court paved the way for a Louisiana statute mandating the display of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms, thereby overturning a previous block and sparking renewed discussions regarding religion in public education.
The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 12-6 in favor of lifting the block, which had been in place since 2024, stating that it was premature to assess the law’s constitutionality.
Opponents of the law argue that it breaches the principle of separation of church and state, whereas advocates contend that the Ten Commandments serve as historical and legal cornerstones in the United States.
In its majority opinion, the court noted uncertainty over how schools would implement the display of these materials, highlighting that the law permits additional documents, such as the Mayflower Compact or the Declaration of Independence, to be shown alongside the Ten Commandments.
The majority opinion emphasized that there were insufficient details to allow for a judicial ruling based on more than conjecture regarding potential First Amendment issues.
Circuit Judge James Ho, appointed by former President Donald Trump, concurred, asserting that the law aligns with constitutional principles and “is consistent with our founding traditions.”
“It is fully consistent with the Constitution, and what’s more, it reinforces our Founders’ firm belief that the children of America should be educated about the religious foundations and traditions of our country,” Ho said, adding that the law “affirms our Nation’s highest and most noble traditions.”
Circuit Judge James L. Dennis, an appointee of former President Bill Clinton, wrote in a dissenting opinion that displaying the Ten Commandments in classrooms would amount to “exposing children to government‑endorsed religion in a setting of compulsory attendance.”
“That is precisely the kind of establishment the Framers anticipated and sought to prevent,” he added.
The ACLU of Louisiana and other groups representing the plaintiffs said they would pursue additional legal challenges to block the law.
“Today’s ruling is extremely disappointing and would unnecessarily force Louisiana’s public school families into a game of constitutional whack-a-mole in every school district,” the groups wrote in a joint-statement. “Longstanding judicial precedent makes clear that our clients need not submit to the very harms they are seeking to prevent before taking legal action to protect their rights.”
Republican Gov. Jeff Landry on Friday praised the court’s decision, writing on Facebook, “Common sense is making a comeback!”
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill issued a statement following the ruling, saying schools “should follow the law.”
“Don’t kill or steal shouldn’t be controversial. My office has issued clear guidance to our public schools on how to comply with the law, and we have created multiple examples of posters demonstrating how it can be applied constitutionally,” she said.
Joseph Davis, an attorney representing Louisiana in the case, celebrated the court’s decision.
“If the ACLU had its way, every trace of religion would be scrubbed from the fabric of our public life,” he said in a statement. “That position is at odds with our nation’s traditions and our Constitution. We’re glad the Fifth Circuit has allowed Louisiana to display the Ten Commandments in its public school classrooms.”
Friday’s ruling came after the full court agreed to reconsider the case, months after a three-judge panel ruled the Louisiana law unconstitutional.
A similar law in Arkansas faces a federal court challenge, while Texas implemented its own Ten Commandments classroom requirement last year.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
