A federal appeals court has ruled that a Louisiana law mandating the display of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms is unconstitutional. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit delivered a unanimous decision, upholding a previous injunction from a federal district court in the case of Rev. Roake v. Brumley. This ruling prevents the enforcement of the law, known as H.B. 71, which required schools to display a Protestant version of the Ten Commandments.
The court cited the Supreme Court's decision in Stone v. Graham, which invalidated a similar law in Kentucky, as a basis for its ruling. The court emphasized that the law violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, stating that it would cause an "irreparable" breach of First Amendment rights if implemented. The decision was celebrated by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the ACLU of Louisiana, and other organizations that represented the plaintiffs, a diverse group of nine families with children in Louisiana public schools.
Rev. Darcy Roake, a plaintiff in the case, expressed gratitude for the decision, highlighting its importance for religious diversity and freedom. Heather L. Weaver, a Senior Staff Attorney for the ACLU, remarked, "Public schools are not Sunday schools, and they must welcome all students, regardless of faith." The ruling is seen as a significant victory for the separation of church and state, reinforcing that religious education should remain a family and community matter, not a governmental one.