Federal appeals court rules Louisiana Ten Commandments school law is unconstitutional

Louisiana's law mandating Ten Commandments displays in public schools deemed unconstitutional by 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, with judges citing First Amendment violations.

A copy of the Ten Commandments is posted along with other historical documents in a hallway at the Georgia Capitol on June 20, 2024, in Atlanta.  (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)

"H.B. 71 is plainly unconstitutional. The district court did not err," the appeals court said on Friday, referring to the statute. "H.B. 71’s minimum requirements provide sufficient details about how the Ten Commandments must be displayed. Plaintiffs have shown that those displays will cause an "irreparable" deprivation of their First Amendment rights."

The law was passed by Louisiana’s Republican-controlled legislature last year and says the text of the Ten Commandments must be written in "large, easily readable font." 

Attorney General of Louisiana Liz Murrill, seen here in January, said her office would appeal the case to the Supreme Court if necessary.  (Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

"We are grateful for this decision, which honors the religious diversity and religious-freedom rights of public school families across Louisiana," Rev. Darcy Roake, a plaintiff in the case represented by Americans United for Separation of Church and State, said. "As an interfaith family, we believe that our children should receive their religious education at home and within our faith communities, not from government officials."

Rachel Laser, president and CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, said in a statement: "This ruling will ensure that Louisiana families – not politicians or public-school officials – get to decide if, when and how their children engage with religion. It should send a strong message to Christian Nationalists across the country that they cannot impose their beliefs on our nation’s public-school children. Not on our watch."

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill said in a statement on Friday that she and her office "strongly disagree" with the ruling, according to NOLA.com.

"We will immediately seek relief from the full Fifth Circuit and, if necessary, the U.S. Supreme Court," she added. 

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Fox News Digital has reached out to Murrill for comment. 

Arkansas has a similar law and other Republican states are on the verge of similar laws. 

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/federal-appeals-court-rules-louisiana-ten-commandments-school-law-unconstitutional