Ten Commandments in Louisiana classrooms blocked by court : NPR

NEW ORLEANS – A panel of three federal appeals judges has found that Louisiana’s law requiring 10 commandments to be published in each of the state’s public school classrooms is unconstitutional.

The ruling party on Friday marked a major victory for civil liberty groups who say that mandate violates the separation of church and state, and that poster-sized displays segregate students, especially non-Christians.

The mission has been promoted by Republicans, including President Donald Trump, and marks one of the latest pushes by conservatives to incorporate religion into the classroom. Law supporters argue that 10 commandments belong to the classroom.

“This is an overwhelming victory over the separation of the church, the state and public education,” said Heather L. Weaver, senior staff lawyer at the American Civil Liberties Union. “With today’s ruling, Louisiana has been responsible for the 5th Circuit’s commitment to the heart of the constitution. Public schools must not be Sunday schools and welcome all students regardless of their faith.”

The plaintiff’s lawyers and Louisiana opposed whether the appeals court decision was applied to all public school districts in the state or only to district parties in the suit.

“All school districts in the state are bound by compliance with the US Constitution,” said Liz Hayes, an American spokesman who united to separate church and state, who served as the plaintiff’s counsel.

The Court of Appeal’s decision “interprets law across Louisiana,” Hayes added. “Therefore, all school districts must adhere to this decision and should not post ten commandments in their classrooms.”

Louisiana plans to appeal the ruling

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Maril said she disagreed and believes the ruling only applies to the five parish school districts that are parties to the suit. Maryle added that he will appeal the ruling, including taking it to the U.S. Supreme Court if necessary.

The panel of judges considering the case was unusually liberal for the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. In more than twice the number of Republican-appointed courts, two of the three judges involved in the verdict were appointed by the Democratic president.

The court’s decision comes from a lawsuit filed last year by the parents of Louisiana schoolchildren from various religious backgrounds. He said the law violates the First Amendment Language, which guarantees freedom of religion and prohibits the establishment of government religion.

The ruling upheld an order issued last fall by US District Judge John Degreverez. John Degreveles violated the mandate and ordered state education officials to enforce it and notify all local school boards in his decision state.

Republican Gov. Jeff Landry signed a law mandate last June.

In a statement Friday, Landry said he supports the Attorney General’s plan to appeal.

“The Ten Commandments are the foundation of our laws and serve both educational and historical purposes in the classroom,” Landry said.

Legal experts have said they hope that Louisiana cases will reach the U.S. Supreme Court and will test the courts on religious and government issues.

A similar law has been challenged in court.

A group of Arkansas families filed a federal lawsuit earlier this month, challenging the nearly identical law passed by the state. And Texas equivalent laws are now awaiting signing by Gov. Greg Abbott.

In 1980, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Kentucky’s law violated the establishment provisions of the U.S. Congress “cannot enact laws that respect the establishment of religion.” The court found that the law had no secular purpose, but it had clearly served a religious purpose.

And in 2005, the Supreme Court held that such an exhibition violated the constitution in a Kentucky court pair. At the same time, the court upheld ten commandment markers on the basis of the Texas Capitol in Austin.