A federal appeals court in New Orleans has ordered that Louisiana’s plan to post the Ten Commandments in all public school classrooms in the state remains on hold. The court denied a request for a temporary stay of an earlier ruling by U.S. District Judge John deGravelles in Baton Rouge, who deemed the law unconstitutional for being overtly religious.
The state quickly appealed the ruling, but the court rejected the request to stay the decision. The state argues that the law only affects the five school districts that are defendants in the case, leaving uncertainty about its enforcement in the other 67 districts in the state.
Opponents of the law, represented by the Freedom From Religion Foundation, welcomed the appeals court’s decision, stating that the law is unconstitutional on its face. The law, signed by Governor Jeff Landry in June, has sparked a legal challenge from a group of parents from various faiths who argue that it violates the First Amendment.
Proponents of the law claim that the Ten Commandments have historical significance and are not solely religious. Republican Louisiana Attorney General Elizabeth Murrill has stated that the law is constitutional based on Supreme Court precedents.
This legal battle in Louisiana is part of a larger trend where other states have proposed similar laws, but none have passed. The appeals court’s decision comes after a partial victory for the state last week, but the court’s ruling on Wednesday lifted the block on a notification requirement, expanding the impact of the original ruling.
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