Court Strikes Down Louisiana Law Mandating Ten Commandments in Schools

In a unanimous decision on June 20, 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit struck down Louisiana's House Bill 71, a law mandating the display of the Ten Commandments in all public school classrooms. The court ruled that the statute violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, referencing the 1980 Supreme Court case Stone v. Graham, which invalidated a similar Kentucky law.

House Bill 71, signed into law by Governor Jeff Landry in June 2024, required that a specific version of the Ten Commandments be prominently displayed in every public school classroom. The law specified a version commonly associated with Protestants and mandated that each poster include a four-paragraph context statement.

The legislation faced immediate legal challenges from nine families, including clergy members, who argued that it infringed upon the constitutional separation of church and state. In November 2024, U.S. District Judge John W. deGravelles issued a preliminary injunction, stating that the law was "unconstitutional on its face." The recent appellate court decision upholds this injunction, affirming that the statute is unconstitutional.

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill has expressed intent to appeal the ruling, potentially bringing the case before the U.S. Supreme Court. She stated, "We will immediately seek relief from the full Fifth Circuit and, if necessary, the United States Supreme Court."

The court's decision heavily referenced Stone v. Graham, a 1980 Supreme Court case that struck down a Kentucky law requiring the posting of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms. The Supreme Court held that the law lacked a secular legislative purpose and was therefore unconstitutional.

The ruling has significant implications for the ongoing debate over the role of religion in public education. Supporters of the law argue that the Ten Commandments are foundational to U.S. law and history, while opponents contend that such mandates violate the constitutional principle of separation of church and state and could alienate non-Christian students.

Similar legislation has been introduced in other states. For instance, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed a law requiring the display of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms. This law is expected to face legal challenges, especially in light of the recent federal court rulings against similar laws in Louisiana and Arkansas.

The Fifth Circuit's ruling against Louisiana's House Bill 71 reaffirms the judiciary's commitment to maintaining the separation of church and state in public education. As similar laws emerge in other states, this decision serves as a critical reference point for evaluating the constitutionality of religious displays in public schools.