Federal Appeals Court Rules Louisiana Ten Commandments School Law Is Unconstitutional

A federal appeals court connected Friday ruled that a Louisiana rule requiring nan Ten Commandments to beryllium displayed successful each public-school classrooms and state-funded universities successful nan authorities is unconstitutional. 

Three national appellate judges connected nan 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals successful Louisiana said they affirmed a little territory court’s ruling that nan statute was "facially unconstitutional."

Last June, a group of parents sued nan authorities complete concerns nan rule that went into effect successful January violates nan separation of religion and state.

The territory tribunal issued a preliminary injunction connected nan rule past November successful nan 5 schoolhouse districts that impact plaintiffs. 

ARKANSAS FAMILIES SUE TO KEEP 10 COMMANDMENTS OUT OF CLASSROOM BEFORE NEW LAW TAKES EFFECT

A transcript of nan Ten Commandments is posted on pinch different humanities documents successful a hallway astatine nan Georgia Capitol connected June 20, 2024, successful Atlanta.  (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)

"H.B. 71 is plainly unconstitutional. The district court did not err," nan appeals tribunal said connected Friday, referring to nan statute. "H.B. 71’s minimum requirements supply capable specifications astir really the Ten Commandments must be displayed. Plaintiffs person shown that those displays will origin an "irreparable" deprivation of their First Amendment rights."

The rule was passed by Louisiana’s Republican-controlled legislature past twelvemonth and says nan matter of nan Ten Commandments must beryllium written successful "large, easy readable font." 

The rule was passed by Louisiana’s Republican-controlled legislature past twelvemonth and says nan matter of nan Ten Commandments must beryllium written successful "large, easy readable font."  (Getty Images)

SUPREME COURT WEIGHS RELIGIOUS LIBERTY DISPUTE OVER PUBLIC FUNDING FOR CATHOLIC CHARTER SCHOOL

"The Ten Commandments must beryllium displayed pinch a ‘context statement’ astir nan ‘History of nan Ten Commandments successful American Public Education,’ and ‘may’ beryllium displayed pinch ‘the Mayflower Compact, nan Declaration of Independence, and nan Northwest Ordinance,'" nan statute says. 

Attorney General of Louisiana Liz Murrill, seen present successful January, said her agency would entreaty nan lawsuit to nan Supreme Court if necessary.  (Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

"We are grateful for this decision, which honors nan belief diverseness and religious-freedom authorities of public school families across Louisiana," Rev. Darcy Roake, a plaintiff in the lawsuit represented by Americans United for Separation of Church and State, said. "As an interfaith family, we believe that our children should person their belief acquisition astatine location and wrong our religion communities, not from authorities officials."

Rachel Laser, president and CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, said successful a statement: "This ruling will guarantee that Louisiana families – not politicians or public-school officials – get to determine if, erstwhile and really their children prosecute pinch religion. It should nonstop a beardown connection to Christian Nationalists crossed nan state that they cannot enforce their beliefs connected our nation’s public-school children. Not connected our watch."

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill said successful a connection connected Friday that she and her agency "strongly disagree" pinch nan ruling, according to NOLA.com.

"We will instantly activity alleviation from nan afloat Fifth Circuit and, if necessary, nan U.S. Supreme Court," she added. 

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Fox News Digital has reached retired to Murrill for comment. 

Arkansas has a akin rule and different Republican states are connected nan verge of akin laws.