US district judge John deGravelles on Tuesday ruled against a Louisiana law requiring the display of the Ten Commandments in all public school classrooms, deeming the law unconstitutional and labeling it “discriminatory and coercive.”
The Ten Commandments, also known as the Decalogue, are religious and ethical principles presented in the Hebrew Bible as a covenant from God to Moses.
Judge deGravelles, appointed by former President Barack Obama, said in his ruling that the law violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. He cited a 1980 Supreme Court decision that struck down a similar Kentucky law as unconstitutional.
“The issue is whether, as a matter of law, there is any constitutional way to display the Ten Commandments in accordance with [Louisiana’s law],” deGravelles explained. “In short, the court finds that there is not.”
He argued that the Louisiana law would exert undue pressure on students to conform to the state’s preferred religious teachings.
“Each of the plaintiffs’ minor children will, in every practical sense, be a ‘captive audience’ due to Louisiana’s compulsory attendance policy,” Judge deGravelles wrote.
The judge suggested that the state could pursue other, less burdensome ways to educate students about the Ten Commandments. “There are numerous ways to achieve this alleged interest without infringing on constitutional rights,” he noted.
The law, passed earlier this year and set to take effect on January 1, required schools to prominently display posters or framed versions of the Ten Commandments measuring at least 11 by 14 inches. Louisiana was the first state in over 40 years to adopt such a mandate.
The legal challenge originated from nine families with children in Louisiana public schools, representing diverse faiths and non-religious backgrounds. The families filed a lawsuit seeking to block the law shortly after it was signed by governor Jeff Landry.
“HB 71 is a direct infringement on our religious freedom,” said Darcy Roake, a plaintiff and Unitarian Universalist minister, in a statement.
DeGravelles further stressed that the law essentially left students with no choice but to view the religious text. “The law is coercive to students, and, for all practical purposes, they cannot opt out of viewing the Ten Commandments when displayed in every classroom, every day, throughout their education,” he wrote.
Louisiana attorney general Liz Murrill expressed disagreement with the ruling and announced an immediate appeal to the 5th US circuit court of appeals in New Orleans.
