Louisiana Federal Judge Rules Against Mandating Ten Commandments in Public Schools

A federal judge in Louisiana has struck down a controversial law that would have required the display of the Ten Commandments in all public school classrooms.

The ruling, delivered by U.S.

District Court Judge John W. deGravelles, declared the law unconstitutional, emphasizing its violation of the constitutional separation of church and state.

The legislation, which was set to take effect on January 1, mandated that every public school classroom, from elementary through college, display posters of the Ten Commandments.

These posters were to be at least 11 by 14 inches in size and include a statement about the historical role of the commandments in early American education.

Judge deGravelles, appointed by former President Barack Obama, described the law as "coercive," arguing that it imposed an undue burden on students' rights.

He noted, "Forcing students to view religious texts daily without any practical way to avoid them breaches their constitutional rights."

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill, a Republican, has announced plans to appeal the decision, expressing confidence that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, known for its conservative leanings, might overturn the ruling.

Supporters of the law, primarily conservative Christian groups, argue that the Ten Commandments are integral to American culture and education.

However, opponents maintain that such displays undermine the principle of church-state separation.