Fifth Circuit Rules Louisiana’s Ten Commandments Law Unconstitutional

Categories: Louisiana Breaking NewsLouisiana GovernmentLouisiana News

A significant legal decision on religious displays in public education.

News Summary

On June 20, 2025, the U.S. Fifth District Court of Appeals ruled that Louisiana’s law requiring Ten Commandments displays in public schools is unconstitutional. The decision is a significant victory for advocates of the separation of church and state, challenging House Bill 71. The law was deemed harmful to students’ constitutional rights, promoting a specific religion in public education. The ruling may have broad implications for similar laws being considered in other states. Despite plans to appeal by the Louisiana Attorney General, the court emphasized the importance of maintaining an inclusive school environment.

Baton Rouge, Louisiana – A unanimous ruling by the U.S. Fifth District Court of Appeals on June 20, 2025, has declared Louisiana’s law mandating the display of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms unconstitutional. This significant decision challenges House Bill 71, which required Ten Commandments displays in all public K-12 and higher education institutions across the state.

The appellate court’s ruling follows a previous district court finding that deemed the statute facially unconstitutional, resulting in a preliminary injunction against any enforcement of the law. This legal challenge was spearheaded by organizations such as the ACLU, ACLU of Louisiana, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and the Freedom from Religion Foundation.

According to the Fifth Circuit’s ruling, Louisiana’s law required that the displays measure 11-by-14 inches and utilize a specific Protestant Christian translation of the Ten Commandments, emphasizing that these displays would unfairly promote a particular religion in a public education setting. The court underscored that the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment mandates public schools to create an inclusive environment, welcoming students of all faiths.

The ruling has been celebrated as a victory for public education advocates and supporters of the separation of church and state. In highlighting the implications of the ruling, the court asserted that students would face substantial constitutional harm if subjected to government-sponsored religious displays in educational environments.

The case’s plaintiff, a Unitarian Universalist minister, and other plaintiffs expressed that the decision honors the religious freedom rights of diverse families, supporting the notion that public education should remain neutral regarding religious matters. The implications of this ruling are not limited to Louisiana alone, as similar laws are being scrutinized in other states, including Arkansas and Texas, where potential legal challenges could arise if their respective bills are signed into law.

Despite the ruling, Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill has announced plans to appeal the decision, maintaining that the intention behind the law is to educate students about history rather than to promote religious beliefs. This position is supported by Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, who signed HB 71 into law in June 2024. Both officials contend that the displays are intended to serve an educational and historical purpose rather than a religious one.

U.S. District Judge John W. deGravelles had previously ruled that the enforcement of HB 71 would conflict with constitutional rights, finding no historical precedent supporting mandatory displays of the Ten Commandments in public schools. The Fifth Circuit court reiterated this view, aligning with Judge deGravelles’ assessment that such measures could infringe upon the First Amendment rights of students and families within the school system.

Legal representatives from the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty argued that the law’s historical context provided justification for the displays, referencing instances of religious monuments allowed in other public spaces. However, the Fifth Circuit’s ruling firmly rejected these arguments, reinforcing the principle of separation between church and state and emphasizing that public education should not involve the endorsement of any specific religious viewpoint.

Overall, the decision made by the Fifth District Court of Appeals represents a critical juncture in the ongoing debate regarding the intersection of religion and public education. The ruling reinforces the necessity for public schools to respect diverse beliefs and uphold constitutional principles within the educational framework.