Texas to Defend Classroom Ten Commandments Law
In a significant legal clash over the separation of church and state, Texas will defend its new law requiring the display of the Ten Commandments in classrooms. This case, alongside a similar challenge from Louisiana, is set to be heard in a federal courtroom this Tuesday.
Overview of the Legal Challenges
The proceedings will feature all 17 active judges from the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, a rare occurrence that underscores the importance of the cases. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a petition for an en banc review, emphasizing that these legal issues are intertwined with the nation’s religious history.
Key Legal Arguments
Paxton did not highlight that the 5th Circuit is primarily composed of conservative judges, with 12 appointed by Republican presidents. Dane Ciolino, a legal expert from Loyola University New Orleans, pointed out that a 1980 U.S. Supreme Court decision prohibits states from mandating the posting of the Ten Commandments in public school settings.
Plausible Outcomes
Regardless of the 5th Circuit’s ruling, the outcome is anticipated to be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. This case is part of an ongoing national discourse regarding whether the Ten Commandments laws breach the First Amendment’s establishment clause, which prevents governmental endorsement of a specific religion.
The Texas and Louisiana Cases
The Texas suit, known as Rabbi Nathan v. Alamo Heights Independent School District, was initiated by parents and religious leaders from the Dallas area. Filed in July 2024, the lawsuit aims to halt a law that mandates the display of the Ten Commandments in every classroom by September 2025.
- The lawsuit argues that students of diverse faiths, or those without any religious background, should not be subjected to daily exposure to Biblical texts.
In August, U.S. District Judge Fred Biery supported the parents by issuing a temporary injunction against the law, prompting an immediate appeal from Texas officials.
Louisiana’s Equivalent Legislation
Louisiana’s Ten Commandments law, the first of its kind in the country, was enacted in 2024. U.S. District Judge John deGravelles ruled the mandate to post the commandments as “facially unconstitutional.” Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill announced plans to appeal this ruling.
- In June 2025, a panel of 5th Circuit judges upheld deGravelles’ decision, consisting of judges aligned with both Democratic and Republican administrations.
Voices in Support of the Laws
Before the forthcoming hearing, Texas state Rep. Candy Noble expressed fervent support for the law, asserting that it would instill foundational values related to America’s educational and judicial frameworks in students.
As the legal battle unfolds, the intersections of faith, education, and law continue to provoke debate across the United States.
