NEW ORLEANS — A federal appeals court in New Orleans has maintained a block on Louisiana’s initiative to mandate the display of the Ten Commandments in all public school classrooms.
The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected a request from the state to pause a previous ruling delivered by U.S. District Judge John deGravelles in Baton Rouge while the legal proceedings continue.
Judge deGravelles characterized the legislation, which was passed earlier this year by a Republican-majority Legislature, as “overtly religious” and inherently “unconstitutional.”
He also indicated that enforcement of this law would represent an unconstitutional coercion of students into a religious framework, particularly given that attendance in school is mandatory.

The bill was signed into law by Governor Jeff Landry in June, which resulted in a lawsuit from a coalition of Louisiana public school parents from various religious backgrounds.
This group contends that the law infringes upon the First Amendment rights, which prohibit the government from establishing a religion while also ensuring the freedom to practice religion.
They further argue that showcasing the Ten Commandments in such a manner could alienate students, particularly those who do not identify as Christian.
Additionally, these parents point out that the version of the Ten Commandments outlined in the legislation aligns closely with Protestant interpretations but diverges from Jewish versions of these teachings.

Supporters of the initiative argue that the Ten Commandments hold significant historical context and contribute to the foundation of U.S. legal precedents, rather than being strictly religious artifacts.
Following Judge deGravelles’ ruling, Louisiana’s Republican Attorney General Elizabeth Murrill expressed her disagreement with the decision, asserting that the law remains constitutional according to existing Supreme Court rulings.

Other states, such as Texas, Oklahoma, and Utah, have also proposed similar measures to require the Ten Commandments’ display in classrooms, but none have successfully passed into law.
Notably, the U.S. Supreme Court declared a comparable law in Kentucky unconstitutional in 1980, indicating it breached the First Amendment establishment clause by promoting a religious agenda without any secular justification.
The court determined that the legislation served only a religious purpose, devoid of any objective beyond promoting a particular faith.