Louisiana’s Ten Commandments in classrooms law remains on hold, 5th Circuit rules
Gov. Jeff Landry and Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill displayed posters they said would pass constitutional muster under Louisiana’s new law that requires displays of the Ten Commandments in Louisiana classrooms. (Image courtesy Louisiana Attorney General)
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 Murrill, who is also a Republican, maintains the commandments merit inclusion alongside other historical documents that form the basis of U.S. law.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.
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