On Tuesday, a federal judge struck down a Louisiana law that mandated displaying the Ten Commandments in all public school classrooms, deeming it unconstitutional. U.S. District Judge John deGravelles called the law “discriminatory and coercive,” marking a temporary setback for conservative groups pushing for greater public expressions of faith. Public schools in the U.S. often become battlegrounds for religious rights, as advocates balance freedom of expression with concerns over government favoritism toward specific religions.
President-elect Donald Trump, a Republican, has endorsed “bringing back prayer to our schools,” aligning with a broader movement supporting religious visibility in public institutions. Louisiana’s schools would have needed to comply with the new law by January 1, but Judge deGravelles, an appointee of Democratic President Barack Obama, blocked its enforcement. Republican Attorney General Liz Murrill expressed strong disagreement with the decision and pledged an immediate appeal, which will go to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans, a court known for its conservative leanings.
In his extensive 177-page ruling, deGravelles stated that Louisiana’s law conflicted with a 1980 U.S. Supreme Court decision that overturned a similar law in Kentucky, thus violating the religious rights of those opposed to such displays. The judge emphasized that the law would effectively pressure public school children into adopting Louisiana’s favored religious teachings during the 177-day academic year.
Judge deGravelles wrote, “Each of the plaintiffs’ minor children will be forced in every practical sense, through Louisiana’s required attendance policy, to be a ‘captive audience.’” He concluded that the law does not allow any constitutional means to display the Ten Commandments in classrooms.
Louisiana became the only state requiring Ten Commandments displays in public schools after Republican Governor Jeff Landry signed House Bill 71 into law on June 19. The law mandates that the Ten Commandments be prominently displayed, with posters or framed versions measuring at least 11 by 14 inches, and the text printed in a large, easy-to-read font. Nine families, including clergy members from Unitarian Universalist, Jewish, Presbyterian, atheist, and nonreligious backgrounds, filed a lawsuit just days after the law’s enactment, seeking an injunction to prevent its implementation.
Darcy Roake, a Unitarian Universalist minister and one of the plaintiffs, condemned the law, stating, “H.B. 71 is a direct infringement of our religious-freedom rights.” Roake, who is married to a Jewish man, emphasized the importance of maintaining a clear boundary between secular public education and religious instruction.
Some conservatives remain hopeful that the U.S. Supreme Court, now with a 6-3 conservative majority, may eventually uphold such laws. The Court recently ruled in favor of a Washington state high school football coach who claimed the right to pray with players on the field after games. However, Judge deGravelles argued that Louisiana’s law would still violate constitutional standards, even under that decision, since there is no established “broader tradition” of incorporating the Ten Commandments into public education.
The case is titled Roake et al v. Brumley et al, U.S. District Court, Middle District of Louisiana, No. 24-00517.
