In a significant decision, a panel of federal appellate judges has declared a Louisiana law mandating the posting of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms unconstitutional. The ruling, a victory for civil liberties advocates, argues that such displays violate the separation of church and state and could alienate non-Christian students. Despite support from Republicans, including President Trump, proponents of the law assert that the Commandments are historically significant and foundational to U.S. law.

Heather L. Weaver of the ACLU hails the ruling as a triumph for the separation of church and state in public education, emphasizing that schools must be inclusive of all faiths. The court’s decision applies statewide, according to Americans United for Separation of Church and State, who stress that all school districts must adhere to the ruling and refrain from displaying the Commandments.

Louisiana plans to challenge the ruling, with Attorney General Liz Murrill intending to appeal, potentially to the U.S. Supreme Court. Notably, the panel of judges overseeing the case included a majority of Democratic-appointed judges in the traditionally conservative 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

This legal battle reflects a broader national debate on the role of religion in public institutions, with similar laws facing legal challenges in other states. Legal experts anticipate that the Louisiana case could ultimately reach the U.S. Supreme Court, further testing the boundaries between religion and government. Previous Supreme Court rulings have found laws mandating religious displays to be unconstitutional, highlighting the ongoing complexity of this issue.