NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA — The U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals has lifted an injunction blocking Louisiana’s 2024 law requiring the Ten Commandments to be displayed in every public school classroom, allowing the mandate to move forward statewide.
In a ruling issued Friday by the court’s full 18-judge panel, the majority reversed an earlier three-judge decision that had deemed the law “plainly unconstitutional.” The court stopped short of declaring the statute constitutional but said it could not evaluate the law in the abstract without knowing the exact context and format of classroom displays.
Five judges dissented, arguing the majority sidestepped longstanding Supreme Court precedent, including the 1980 decision in Stone v. Graham, which struck down a similar Kentucky law under the Establishment Clause.
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill praised the ruling, stating schools should follow the law and referencing guidance her office issued to ensure constitutional compliance. In a concurring opinion, Judge James Ho described the measure as consistent with the nation’s traditions.
Civil liberties groups, including the ACLU of Louisiana, said they are exploring further legal action. The case involves nine families from five parishes who argue the mandated Protestant version of the Ten Commandments conflicts with their religious beliefs.
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