The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rules that Texas public schools can require displays of the Ten Commandments in classrooms. This decision marks a major victory for supporters of religious elements in public education and sets the stage for potential U.S. Supreme Court review.
The court determines the law aligns with the First Amendment, which protects religious freedom and bars government establishment of religion.
Texas AG Celebrates Ruling
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton calls the decision “a major victory for Texas and our moral values.” “The Ten Commandments have had a profound impact on our nation, and it’s important that students learn from them every single day,” Paxton states.
Opponents Voice Disappointment
Groups representing challenging families, including the American Civil Liberties Union, express deep disappointment. Their statement notes, “The court’s ruling goes against fundamental First Amendment principles and binding U.S. Supreme Court authority. The First Amendment safeguards the separation of church and state, and the freedom of families to choose how, when and if to provide their children with religious instruction. This decision tramples those rights.”
Context of Republican-Led Efforts
The Texas measure forms part of broader Republican initiatives, including those from Donald Trump, to integrate religion into public schools. Supporters view the Ten Commandments as a historical foundation of U.S. law, while critics argue it breaches church-state separation.
Legal Path and Implementation
The ruling overturns a district court’s block after the full appeals court heard arguments in January for Texas and a parallel Louisiana case. In February, the court enabled Louisiana’s similar requirement. The 5th Circuit votes 12-6 to lift the 2024 injunction.
Texas’s law activates on September 1 as the nation’s boldest effort to post the Ten Commandments in schools. Federal injunctions halt displays in about two dozen districts, yet posters appear in many classrooms statewide through district funding or donations.
