A federal judge has issued a preliminary injunction temporarily halting Louisiana’s law requiring the Ten Commandments to be displayed in every public school classroom, marking a win for a coalition of parents who argued the law violated the First Amendment. U.S. District Judge John deGravelles ruled on Tuesday, preventing the state from enforcing the law as the legal battle proceeds.

The law, H.B. 71, was signed into effect by Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry earlier this year, setting a January 1, 2025, deadline for public K-12 schools and state-funded universities to display state-approved posters of the Ten Commandments in each classroom.

According to the plaintiffs, represented by civil liberties groups including the ACLU, the law infringes on the Establishment Clause, which prohibits government endorsement of religion.

Legal Challenge Based on Religious Freedom Concerns

The plaintiffs, consisting of diverse families from various faiths, argued that the mandate to display the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms forces students into an environment of implicit religious observation.

Their argument highlights concerns that the law pressures children into religious exposure contrary to their families’ beliefs, with plaintiffs asserting that public school is intended to be a secular environment.

Judge deGravelles supported this view in his ruling, emphasizing that Louisiana students could be placed in “captive audiences” exposed to religious texts without choice.

His ruling labeled the law “facially unconstitutional,” noting that the state law mandates a religious exercise not compatible with the secular nature of public education.

Response from the State and Anticipated Appeal

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill quickly announced her intention to appeal the ruling, stating, “We strongly disagree with the court’s decision.” She argued that the law is designed in a way that complies with constitutional standards, pointing to state-prepared poster designs that included historical context.

State officials contend these posters offer educational value without infringing upon religious neutrality.

Murrill’s office has also indicated that the appeal process could bring the case to the U.S. Supreme Court. If reviewed, this case could potentially reshape interpretations of the First Amendment and the role of religious displays in public schools.

Background and Broader Implications for Religious Freedom

This legal challenge aligns with previous cases that have scrutinized religious displays in public schools. A notable precedent from 1980 saw the Supreme Court ruling against the display of the Ten Commandments in Kentucky classrooms.

Opponents argue that a reversal could weaken the separation of church and state and risk the establishment of state-sanctioned religious practices in public institutions.

Alanah Odoms, executive director of the ACLU of Louisiana, expressed concerns that overturning such protections would enable broader government control over religious expression, potentially leading to coercive religious policies in public spaces. “If the First Amendment doesn’t protect people’s right to choose a certain religion,” Odoms remarked, “you could see state-sanctioned religions across the country.”

The law's halt has been met with relief by parents, educators, and students, particularly those from diverse religious backgrounds who had expressed concerns about maintaining an inclusive classroom environment.

Civil liberties advocates argue that the decision affirms the right of public schools to remain secular spaces, while state officials continue to press for their appeal.

The next phase of the case is expected to unfold in the appellate courts, with both sides preparing for what could become a pivotal constitutional showdown.