A law to require all public school classrooms in Louisiana display the Ten Commandments won’t take effect until a court case plays out on whether the law is constitutional, a federal appellate court has ruled.

The U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals turned down Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill’s request to throw out a temporary hold on enforcement of the law, issued Nov. 12 by U.S. District Judge John deGravelles. The law, which the Republican-dominated Legislature and GOP Gov. Jeff Landry approved, is supposed to take effect Jan. 1

Nine parents filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for Louisiana’s Middle District in Baton Rouge, arguing the new statute violates the First Amendment’s prohibition on government-sponsored religion. deGravelles, a federal court appointee of former President Barack Obama, issued an injunction to delay enforcement until the case is decided. The judge said in his ruling that it was unlikely the state would prevail because the law is “unconstitutional on its face.”

The new state law calls for 11-inch by 14-inch displays of the Ten Commandments to go up in every classroom at schools that accept state dollars. Murrill, who is also a Republican, maintains the commandments merit inclusion alongside other historical documents that form the basis of U.S. law.

This is a developing story that will be updated.

Louisiana Illuminator is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Louisiana Illuminator maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Greg LaRose for questions: info@lailluminator.com. Follow Louisiana Illuminator on Facebook and X.

A federal judge’s order that blocks a Louisiana law requiring Ten Commandments displays to go up in classrooms doesn’t apply to the school districts that aren’t defending it, a U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals panel has ruled.

Attorney General Liz Murrill, who is defending the law that the Legislature and Gov. Jeff Landry approved earlier this year, filed an appeal after U.S. District Judge John DeGravelles issued an order Tuesday that stopped the law from going into effect Jan. 1. In his 177-page ruling, the judge said the state wasn’t likely to win the case.

In 2-1 ruling, a 5th Circuit panel agreed with Murrill that DeGravelles’ decision should apply to Louisiana’s other 68 public school districts. Judges Kurt Engelhardt, a federal court nominee of former President Donald Trump, and Jerry Smith, an appointee of former President Ronald Reagan, ruled in Murrill’s favor. Judge James Graves, a court pick of former President Barack Obama, wanted to deny the stay.

DeGravelles, who is also an Obama appointee to the federal court, had said in his ruling that all 72 school districts should be notified of his ruling.

On social media Friday, Murrill celebrated the appellate court’s granting her motion. She had argued DeGravelles ruling should only apply to the five school districts who are defendants in the lawsuit nine plaintiff parents have filed, arguing that placing the Ten Commandments in classrooms violates the U.S. Constitution.

“I look forward to immediately working with all of our school boards who are not involved in this lawsuit to implement the law soon!” Murrill posted on X, formerly Twitter.

The parish public school districts named as defendants in the case are East Baton Rouge, Livingston, Orleans, St. Tammany and Vernon. Education Superintendent Cade Brumley and Board of Elementary and Secondary Education members are also defendants.

Two of the groups representing plaintiffs in the cast – the ACLU of Louisiana and Americans United for Separation of Church and State – consider the 5th Circuit order “a minor procedural issue,” according to the Associated Press.

The new law requires 11-by-14-inch displays along with an accompanying “context statement” that explains the commandments’ role in education. It applies to any school that accepts state money, including colleges and universities. The schools are not compelled to spend money on the posters though they can accept donated materials.

Louisiana Illuminator is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Louisiana Illuminator maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Greg LaRose for questions: info@lailluminator.com. Follow Louisiana Illuminator on Facebook and X.

An LSU student was arrested Tuesday after Louisiana State Police said he posted a threat online to kill Gov. Jeff Landry.

Jackson Pemberton, 21, told police he was upset with the governor’s decision to bring a live tiger to the sidelines before LSU’s game with Alabama, according to an arrest warrant the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office provided. Jail records show Pemberton was charged with one count of threatening a public official.

State troopers were forwarded a picture of a post they say Pemberton made on X, formerly Twitter, that stated: “I am going to kill you @JeffLandry.” Investigators used Pemberton’s social media accounts to locate him at an off-campus apartment complex.

“Pemberton stated that he was upset with the governor’s decision regarding the live tiger

that was brought on the LSU football field this previous weekend,” the arrest warrant said. “Pemberton further stated disagreement with the governor’s decisions. Pemberton stated he did not wish to harm the governor and that the post was made as a joke.”

The crime of threatening a public official in Louisiana is punishable by a fine of up to $500 dollars, a maximum of six months in prison, or both.

Landry and Surgeon General Ralph Abraham have been the most ardent supporters of bringing a tiger back inside Tiger Stadium. LSU ended the tradition in 2015 after its live mascot, Mike VI, grew resistant to entering his travel cage before football games. The university decided not to revive the ceremony when it acquired Mike VII in 2017.

Representatives of LSU’s veterinary school, who provide care for Mike, held firm against Landry’s idea to bring the tiger back into the stadium. He and Abraham then connected with Mitchel Kalmanson, an exotic animal handler in Florida, to bring a 1.5-year-old live Bengal tiger named Omar Bradley to Baton Rouge. The animal was placed into Mike’s cage, brought into the stadium and removed ahead of kickoff.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has compiled an extensive list of federal infractions against Kalmanson for the alleged mishandling of tigers and other big cats in his possession.

Louisiana Illuminator is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Louisiana Illuminator maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Greg LaRose for questions: info@lailluminator.com. Follow Louisiana Illuminator on Facebook and X.