Governor Jeff Landry and Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill displayed posters that they said would be constitutionally compliant under Louisiana’s new law requiring the display of the Ten Commandments in Louisiana classrooms. (Image courtesy of Louisiana Attorney General)
A law requiring all public school classrooms in Louisiana to display the Ten Commandments will not go into effect until a lawsuit over whether the law is constitutional, a federal appeals court has ruled.
The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has denied Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill’s request to lift a temporary freeze on enforcement of the law. U.S. District Judge John deGravelles issued Nov. 12. The law, which was approved by the Republican-dominated Legislature and GOP Gov. Jeff Landry, should take effect Jan. 1
Nine parents have filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana in Baton Rouge, arguing that the new statute violates the First Amendment’s ban on government-sponsored religion. deGravelles, a federal judge appointed by former President Barack Obama, issued an order delaying enforcement until the case is decided. The judge said in his ruling that the state was unlikely to prevail because the law is “prima facie unconstitutional.”
The new state law calls for 11-inch by 14-inch displays of the Ten Commandments in every classroom at schools that accept state dollars. Murrill, who is also a Republican, believes the commandments should be included alongside other historical documents that form the basis of American law.
This is a developing story that will be updated.
