Appeals Court Strikes Down Louisiana’s Ten Commandments Law as Unconstitutional
June 20, 2025 | ATLANTA — A federal appeals court on Friday unanimously ruled that a Louisiana law requiring public schools and universities to display the Ten Commandments in every classroom violates the Constitution.
In a 3-0 decision, a panel from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit upheld a lower court’s injunction that blocked the law. The judges — Irma Carrillo Ramirez, James L. Dennis, and Catharina Haynes — noted that the law was “plainly unconstitutional” and closely resembled a similar Kentucky law struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1980.
The law, enacted in 2024, mandated that all classrooms display a specific version of the Ten Commandments — the Protestant version — on posters at least 11 by 14 inches in size, with the Commandments presented as the central and most prominent feature. It also required an accompanying statement describing the Commandments as an integral part of early American education and law.
Legal Challenge and Court’s Reasoning
The legal challenge was brought by nine families of various religious backgrounds whose children attend Louisiana public schools. They were represented in part by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Louisiana.
“This law forces our children to be subjected to one religious viewpoint over others,” said Rev. Darcy Roake, a Unitarian Universalist minister and one of the plaintiffs. “Religious education belongs at home and in faith communities — not in government classrooms.”
In their ruling, the judges pointed out that the law did not serve a secular educational purpose, despite claims by its supporters. The requirement that every classroom, regardless of subject, display the Commandments was a key factor in the decision. The panel also referenced statements from legislators that underscored a religious motivation behind the law.
One such quote came from the bill’s primary sponsor, who said, “It is so important that our children learn what God says is right, and what He says is wrong.”
Political and Legal Fallout
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill responded forcefully to the decision, saying her office would “immediately seek relief from the full Fifth Circuit and, if necessary, the U.S. Supreme Court.” Murrill and other state officials have openly welcomed legal challenges, viewing the law as a vehicle to push the U.S. Supreme Court to revisit past rulings on religious displays.
The law’s passage was part of a broader conservative agenda advanced by Louisiana's Republican-controlled legislature and newly elected Governor Jeff Landry, who succeeded a Democrat. Other legislation signed into law by Landry includes classifying abortion pills as dangerous controlled substances — another national first.
Supporters of the Ten Commandments law argued that the text has historical significance beyond religion and reflects foundational legal principles. But the court found these arguments unconvincing, especially in light of the explicitly religious language used to promote the bill.
Before the court blocked it, the law had been scheduled to go into effect on January 1, 2025. The state had even distributed downloadable poster templates — one version featuring an illustration of Moses and a photograph of Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, who represents a district in Louisiana.
What’s Next
The ruling is expected to be appealed to the full Fifth Circuit and potentially to the U.S. Supreme Court. The case marks a significant legal flashpoint in the ongoing debate over religion in public schools, as religious advocacy groups continue to test the boundaries of the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause.
Rick Rojas is The New York Times' Atlanta bureau chief, leading coverage of the southern United States.
