Instant Insight

30-Second Take

• A federal appeals court has ruled that a Louisiana law requiring public schools to display the Ten Commandments in every classroom is unconstitutional.
• The decision upholds a lower court’s preliminary injunction, citing the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.
• Civil liberties groups celebrate the ruling, arguing it protects the separation of church and state and prevents isolation of non-Christian students.

Quick Brief

2-Minute Digest

Essential Context

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has unanimously ruled against Louisiana’s H.B. 71, a law that mandated the display of a government-approved, Protestant version of the Ten Commandments in every public school classroom. This decision aligns with the Supreme Court’s precedent set in *Stone v. Graham*, which overturned a similar law in Kentucky in 1980.

Core Players

• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit – The court that made the ruling.
• Louisiana State Officials – Defendants in the lawsuit who supported the law.
• American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) – A plaintiff in the case, advocating for civil liberties.
• Parents and Students – Plaintiffs who challenged the law, representing various religious backgrounds.

Key Numbers

• 1980 – The year the Supreme Court ruled in *Stone v. Graham*, setting the precedent for this case.
• 2024 – The year the federal district court issued a preliminary injunction against the law.
• June 20, 2025 – The date of the appeals court ruling.

Full Depth

Complete Coverage

The Catalyst

The controversy began when Louisiana enacted H.B. 71, requiring public schools to display the Ten Commandments. This law was met with immediate legal challenges from parents and students, as well as civil liberties groups like the ACLU.

The plaintiffs argued that the law violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, which prohibits the government from establishing or promoting a particular religion.

Inside Forces

The appeals court’s decision was influenced by the Supreme Court’s ruling in *Stone v. Graham*. In that case, the Supreme Court held that posting the Ten Commandments in public schools was unconstitutional because it had no secular legislative purpose.

The defendants conceded that *Stone v. Graham* remains good law and is binding on lower courts, further solidifying the appeals court’s decision.

Power Dynamics

The ruling reflects a significant victory for civil liberties groups and a setback for proponents of the law, including some Republican lawmakers who had supported the measure.

Supporters of the law argued that the Ten Commandments are historical and foundational to U.S. law, but the court found these arguments insufficient to justify the display in public school classrooms.

Outside Impact

The decision has broader implications for the separation of church and state in public education. It reinforces the principle that public schools must remain neutral in matters of religion to protect the rights of all students.

Civil liberties groups see this ruling as a crucial step in maintaining religious freedom and preventing the coercion of students into viewing religious displays.

Future Forces

The ruling may influence similar legal challenges in other states where laws or policies aim to introduce religious content into public schools.

It also underscores the ongoing debate about the role of religion in public education and the importance of adhering to constitutional principles.

Data Points

• January 1, 2025 – The date the law was set to take effect before being blocked by the court.
• November 12, 2024 – The date the federal district court issued a preliminary injunction against the law.
• June 20, 2025 – The date of the appeals court ruling affirming the lower court’s decision.