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5th Circuit Lifts Block on Louisiana’s Classroom Ten Commandments Law

The court said the case is not ripe because any constitutional ruling must rest on how schools actually implement the mandated displays.

Earliest complete stone tablet of the Ten Commandments is on display and is expected to fetch $1-2 million at auction, in New York, U.S., December 9, 2024. REUTERS/Christine Kiernan
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Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill speaks with reporters outside the U.S. Supreme Court after justices heard oral arguments in Murthy v. Missouri, a first amendment case involving the federal government and social media platforms in Washington, D.C., March 18, 2024.
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Overview

  • The en banc 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals vacated a lower-court injunction, allowing Louisiana’s H.B. 71 to proceed without deciding its constitutionality.
  • Judges said key facts remain unknown, including the prominence of the posters, any accompanying materials, and whether teachers reference the text in instruction.
  • Judge James L. Dennis dissented, warning that permanent classroom displays would amount to government-endorsed religion for students in compulsory settings.
  • Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill praised the ruling and said her office has issued compliance guidance and sample posters for schools, while civil-liberties groups representing parents vowed ongoing challenges based on local applications.
  • The 2024 law requires Ten Commandments displays in K–12 public schools and state-funded colleges, paralleling contested measures in Texas and Arkansas that have faced court blocks.