A federal appeals court has ruled that Louisiana may begin enforcing its law requiring the Ten Commandments to be displayed in public school classrooms, marking a significant victory for supporters of religious liberty and America’s historic foundations.
On Feb. 20, the full U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit voted 12-6 to lift a lower court injunction that had blocked HB 71, legislation signed by Gov. Jeff Landry in June 2024. The ruling allows the state to move forward with implementation while broader constitutional questions continue to be debated.
The law requires a poster-sized copy of the Ten Commandments to be displayed in public elementary, secondary, and post-secondary classrooms, accompanied by a contextual statement explaining the document’s historical influence on American law and government. Schools are also permitted to display other foundational documents, including the Declaration of Independence and the Mayflower Compact.
Opponents, led by the American Civil Liberties Union, argued that the law violates the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause by exposing students to a religious message in mandatory classroom settings. The ACLU has pledged to continue its legal challenge and has 90 days to appeal the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court.
However, the Fifth Circuit sided with Louisiana’s argument that it was premature to rule on the law’s constitutionality before it had been enacted.
Joseph Davis, senior counsel representing Louisiana, welcomed the decision. “If the ACLU had its way, every trace of religion would be scrubbed from the fabric of our public life,” Davis said. “That position is at odds with our nation’s traditions and our Constitution.”
Supporters say the measure reflects America’s legal heritage and restores acknowledgment of the moral principles that shaped the nation’s founding. Critics contend the battle is far from over, setting the stage for a potential Supreme Court showdown over religion in public education.
