A major federal appeals court ruling has revived a high-profile fight over religion in public education, clearing the way for Louisiana to begin enforcing a law requiring the Ten Commandments to be displayed in public school classrooms.
On Friday, February 20, the en banc U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit voted 12–6 to lift a preliminary injunction that had blocked enforcement of Louisiana’s 2024 statute, known as House Bill 71. The law mandates poster-sized displays of a state-approved version of the Ten Commandments in every public K-12 classroom, as well as in public colleges and universities.
The ruling reverses earlier court decisions. A federal district court struck down the law in late 2024 as a likely violation of the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause, and a three-judge Fifth Circuit panel upheld that decision in 2025, calling the mandate “plainly unconstitutional.” But the full court revisited the case after hearing arguments in January and ultimately sided with the state.
Writing for the majority, the court said it was too early to decide whether the law is unconstitutional. Judges emphasized that the displays have not yet been posted, leaving open questions about how the text will appear, whether teachers will reference it, and whether it will be displayed alongside other historical materials such as the Declaration of Independence. The court noted that future “as-applied” challenges could still be brought once the law is implemented.
The lawsuit, Rev. Roake v. Brumley, was filed by families represented by the American Civil Liberties Union, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and the Freedom From Religion Foundation. The groups argue the law amounts to government endorsement of religion by requiring a Protestant-leaning religious text in compulsory public schools.
Dissenting judges agreed, warning that the policy pressures students to conform to a specific religious tradition. Supporters of the law, including Louisiana officials and conservative advocacy groups, counter that the Ten Commandments are a foundational historical influence on American law and civic values, not merely a religious symbol. The measure was strongly backed by Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry.
The decision reflects a broader shift in federal courts following recent Supreme Court rulings that have given greater latitude to religious expression in public settings.
Louisiana now becomes the first state in decades to move forward with such a mandate after the Supreme Court invalidated a similar Kentucky law in 1980. Legal scholars widely expect this case — or related challenges in other states — to reach the Supreme Court, setting up a potential landmark ruling on the role of religion in public education.
While the injunction has been lifted, the court did not order immediate compliance. School districts are expected to receive guidance on implementation in the coming weeks.
The debate is far from over — but for now, Louisiana’s law is back in force, and the national spotlight is firmly on the classroom wall. ⚖️📜