Federal appeals court rules Louisiana Ten Commandments school law is unconstitutional

A federal appeals court connected Friday ruled that a Louisiana instrumentality requiring the Ten Commandments to beryllium displayed successful each public-school classrooms and state-funded universities successful the authorities is unconstitutional. 

Three national appellate judges connected the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals successful Louisiana said they affirmed a little territory court’s ruling that the statute was "facially unconstitutional."

Last June, a radical of parents sued the authorities implicit concerns the instrumentality that went into effect successful January violates the separation of religion and state.

The territory tribunal issued a preliminary injunction connected the instrumentality past November successful the 5 schoolhouse districts that impact plaintiffs. 

ARKANSAS FAMILIES SUE TO KEEP 10 COMMANDMENTS OUT OF CLASSROOM BEFORE NEW LAW TAKES EFFECT

A transcript of the Ten Commandments is posted on with different humanities documents successful a hallway astatine the Georgia Capitol connected June 20, 2024, successful Atlanta.  (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)

"H.B. 71 is plainly unconstitutional. The district court did not err," the appeals tribunal said connected Friday, referring to the statute. "H.B. 71’s minimum requirements supply capable details astir however the Ten Commandments must be displayed. Plaintiffs person shown that those displays volition origin an "irreparable" deprivation of their First Amendment rights."

The instrumentality was passed by Louisiana’s Republican-controlled legislature past twelvemonth and says the substance of the Ten Commandments indispensable beryllium written successful "large, easy readable font." 

The instrumentality was passed by Louisiana’s Republican-controlled legislature past twelvemonth and says the substance of the Ten Commandments indispensable beryllium written successful "large, easy readable font."  (Getty Images)

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"The Ten Commandments indispensable beryllium displayed with a ‘context statement’ astir the ‘History of the Ten Commandments successful American Public Education,’ and ‘may’ beryllium displayed with ‘the Mayflower Compact, the Declaration of Independence, and the Northwest Ordinance,'" the statute says. 

Attorney General of Louisiana Liz Murrill, seen present successful January, said her bureau would entreaty the lawsuit to the Supreme Court if necessary.  (Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

"We are grateful for this decision, which honors the spiritual diverseness and religious-freedom rights of public school families across Louisiana," Rev. Darcy Roake, a plaintiff in the lawsuit represented by Americans United for Separation of Church and State, said. "As an interfaith family, we believe that our children should person their spiritual acquisition astatine location and wrong our religion communities, not from authorities officials."

Rachel Laser, president and CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, said successful a statement: "This ruling volition guarantee that Louisiana families – not politicians or public-school officials – get to determine if, erstwhile and however their children prosecute with religion. It should nonstop a beardown connection to Christian Nationalists crossed the state that they cannot enforce their beliefs connected our nation’s public-school children. Not connected our watch."

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill said successful a connection connected Friday that she and her bureau "strongly disagree" with the ruling, according to NOLA.com.

"We volition instantly question alleviation from the afloat Fifth Circuit and, if necessary, the U.S. Supreme Court," she added. 

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Fox News Digital has reached retired to Murrill for comment. 

Arkansas has a akin instrumentality and different Republican states are connected the verge of akin laws.