A federal judge in Louisiana ruled the state requirement that the Ten Commandments be displayed in all public classrooms is unconstitutional, citing an overtly religious purpose. The ruling ordered state education officials not to enforce the law and to notify all local school boards. Louisiana Attorney General Elizabeth Murrill plans to appeal the decision, arguing that the law has historical significance to U.S. law. The ruling currently only applies to five local school boards named in the lawsuit, leaving the other 67 school systems subject to the law.
The judge’s order could create confusion for other school boards, as Murrill stated they are not legally bound by the ruling, but it could have a chilling effect on enforcement. Proponents argue the measure is not solely religious but has historical significance, while opponents claim it violates the First Amendment by promoting a specific religious belief. The law, passed by Louisiana’s GOP-dominated Legislature, requires displaying the Ten Commandments in all public K-12 schools and state-funded university classrooms.
Similar measures have been proposed in other states, but legal battles have prevented them from going into effect. The U.S. Supreme Court previously ruled a similar Kentucky law unconstitutional, finding it served a plainly religious purpose. Louisiana’s new law would require tens of thousands of posters to be displayed, but proponents argue schools are not required to spend public money on them. The ruling is likely to be appealed to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, setting the stage for further legal battles over the constitutionality of the requirement.
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