Court Rules Louisiana’s Ten Commandments Law Unconstitutional

Categories: Louisiana Breaking NewsLouisiana GovernmentLouisiana News

A federal appeals court ruling highlighting the importance of religious neutrality in public education.

News Summary

A federal appeals court has ruled that Louisiana’s law requiring the display of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms is unconstitutional. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals found that the law violates the establishment clause of the First Amendment, highlighting concerns over religious neutrality in public education. The ruling followed a lawsuit from an interfaith group challenging the presentation of the law as it may alienate students of diverse beliefs. The state plans to appeal the decision, which advocates see as a significant victory for civil liberties.

New Orleans, Louisiana – On June 20, 2025, a federal appeals court in New Orleans ruled that a Louisiana law mandating the display of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms is unconstitutional. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals made this unanimous decision through a three-judge panel, emphasizing that the law violates the establishment clause of the First Amendment.

The ruling upheld a preliminary injunction that prevented the implementation of House Bill 71, the law in question. The legislation required public schools to display the Ten Commandments using specific wording, presented in a large font for readability, along with a statement providing context on the historical significance of the Ten Commandments in public education.

The lawsuit was initiated by an interfaith group of families who argued that the language utilized in House Bill 71 reflected a Protestant interpretation of the Ten Commandments, which could alienate students of other faiths or those without religious beliefs. In its ruling, the court referenced a previous U.S. Supreme Court decision from 1980 in the case of Stone v. Graham, which had found similar laws unconstitutional. Louisiana officials attempted to argue that the Stone ruling was no longer applicable due to updated legal interpretations stemming from the Kennedy v. Bremerton School District case related to religious expression in public schools.

Despite the state’s argument regarding evolving legal standards, the 5th Circuit maintained that the Stone decision is still relevant and that the display of the Ten Commandments would be unconstitutional under the new historical test. The court noted a lack of evidence supporting the existence of a persistent tradition of Ten Commandments displays in public school settings.

Moreover, Louisiana officials tried to dismiss viewpoints from individuals who felt offended by the law concerning their standing to sue, referencing a concurrence by Justice Neil Gorsuch. Judge Irma Carrillo Ramirez pointed out that under House Bill 71, there would be no opt-out provision for students whose families disagreed with the required classroom displays.

The plaintiffs were represented by several civil rights organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), its Louisiana branch, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and the Freedom From Religion Foundation. This ruling was seen as a substantial victory for advocates of civil liberties, as they argue the law undermines the principle of separation of church and state.

In response to the court’s decision, Louisiana’s Republican attorney general, Liz Murrill, announced plans to appeal the ruling, which could potentially escalate to the U.S. Supreme Court. Governor Jeff Landry, who signed House Bill 71 into law in June 2024, expressed his support for the appeal, asserting that the Ten Commandments provide an invaluable educational resource.

The community reactions to the ruling have been mixed. Some residents argue that the court’s decision should apply universally to all public school districts across Louisiana, while others contend that its implications should only pertain to the districts involved in the lawsuit. This ruling may also set a significant precedent as similar laws are currently being challenged in Arkansas and are pending examination in Texas.

This legal outcome marks an important chapter in the ongoing discourse on the intersection of religion and public education, encapsulating the complexities surrounding the First Amendment’s establishment clause and its implications for state-sanctioned religious expressions in schools.