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Judge Rules against Ten Commandments Display in Louisiana Classrooms

Judge Rules against Ten Commandments Display in Louisiana Classrooms

A federal judge in Louisiana blocked a recently passed law that would have required schools across the state to display the Ten Commandments in their classrooms. According to The Christian Post, U.S. District Judge John W. deGravelles handed down a lengthy ruling and order in the case of Darcy Roake et al. v. Cade Brumley et al. The case centered on Louisiana's House Bill 71, which was signed into law in June, which would require schools to display the Decalogue, also known as the Ten Commandments, which can be found in Exodus 20 in the Bible. The legislation was slated to take effect on New Year's Day 2025. 

"Plaintiffs have established a viable Free Exercise claim," wrote deGravelles. "H.B. 71 is not neutral toward religion, and this is evident from the text of the statute, its effects, and the statements of lawmakers before and after the Act's passage."

The judge also refuted the defendant's claim that the Ten Commandments were a historically integral part of public education in U.S. history.

"In sum, the historical evidence showed that the instances of using the Ten Commandments in public schools were too 'scattered' to amount to 'convincing evidence that it was common' at the time of the Founding or incorporation of the First Amendment to utilize the Decalogue in public-school education," deGravelles added.

"That is, the evidence demonstrates that the practice at issue does not fit within and is otherwise not consistent with a broader historical tradition during those time periods."

The ruling was celebrated by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which represented nine Louisiana families with children in the state public school system.

"This ruling should serve as a reality check for Louisiana lawmakers who want to use public schools to convert children to their preferred brand of Christianity," said Heather L. Weaver, senior staff attorney for the ACLU's Program on Freedom of Religion and Belief in a statement.

"Public schools are not Sunday schools, and today's decision ensures that our clients' classrooms will remain spaces where all students, regardless of their faith, feel welcomed."

Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry signed H.B. 71 into law in June, which requires public schools to display "certain historical documents," such as the Ten Commandments, the Mayflower Compact, the Declaration of Independence, and the Northwest Ordinance.

"Recognizing the historical role of the Ten Commandments accords with our nation's history and faithfully reflects the understanding of the founders of our nation with respect to the necessity of civic morality to a functional self-government," stated the legislation.

"Including the Ten Commandments in the education of our children is part of our state and national history, culture, and tradition."

The governor's ruling prompted the ACLU, The Freedom From Religion Foundation, and Americans United for Separation of Church and State to file a lawsuit on behalf of a group of parents of different faiths. 

"[F]or nearly half a century, it has been well settled that the First Amendment forbids public schools from posting the Ten Commandments in this manner," read the complaint.

"Plaintiffs seek a declaratory judgment that the Act is unconstitutional and preliminary and permanent injunctive relief to prevent Defendants from (i) implementing rules and regulations in accordance with the Act, (ii) otherwise seeking to enforce the Act, and (iii) displaying the Ten Commandments in any public-school classroom."

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill, who celebrated the bill's passing in June, vowed to "immediately appeal" the judge's ruling.

"Update on Louisiana's Ten Commandments law: We strongly disagree with the court's decision & will immediately appeal, as H.B. 71's implementation deadline is approaching on January 1, 2025. School boards are independently elected local political subdivisions in Louisiana.  Only five school boards are defendants, therefore the judge only has jurisdiction over those five. This is far from over," she wrote on X Tuesday evening. 

In 1980, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in the Stone v. Graham case, in which Kentucky could not require public schools to display the Ten Commandments because it violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. 

Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/allanswart

Milton QuintanillaMilton Quintanilla is a freelance writer and content creator. He is a contributing writer for CrosswalkHeadlines and the host of the For Your Soul Podcast, a podcast devoted to sound doctrine and biblical truth. He holds a Masters of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary.