A federal appeals court in New Orleans has temporarily limited the scope of a ruling that declared Louisiana’s law requiring public schools to post the Ten Commandments in all classrooms unconstitutional. The ruling by U.S. District Judge John deGravelles remains in effect, but the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has blocked a part of the ruling that requires state education officials to notify all public schools in the state about the decision.
State attorneys argued that the ruling only affects five local school systems that are defendants in the case, and that Judge deGravelles overstepped his authority by ordering all 72 districts to be notified. They have filed an emergency stay motion to pause the notification requirement while they appeal the ruling. The broader appeal was filed on Friday night after the temporary administrative stay was granted by the 5th Circuit.
The law, passed by the Louisiana Legislature and signed by Governor Jeff Landry, requires the posting of a version of the Ten Commandments in all public classrooms from K-12 and at public universities by January 1st. Judge deGravelles deemed the law as “overtly religious” and “unconstitutional on its face,” prohibiting the Superintendent of Education and the state education board from implementing the law.
Attorney General Liz Murrill, a Republican ally of Governor Landry, expressed her disagreement with the ruling and stated that the state will work with school boards not involved in the lawsuit to implement the law soon. The notification requirement was seen as problematic by the state, as it could create confusion in school systems where they believe the law is still in effect.
The 5th Circuit’s order may be altered or lifted as the appeal progresses, with Judges Jerry Smith and Kurt Engelhardt voting to grant the stay, while Judge James Graves would have denied it. The state is continuing to fight the ruling and is determined to see the law upheld despite the current legal challenges.
