Federal Judge Blocks Louisiana Law Requiring Ten Commandments in Classrooms

The ruling is probably the first in what could be a long legal fight for conservative Christian groups hoping to amplify public expressions of faith.

A federal judge in Louisiana blocked a state law on Tuesday that would have required the display of the Ten Commandments in every public school classroom. The legislation, passed by state lawmakers this year, has been closely watched, because Louisiana was the first state to enact this kind of mandate in more than 40 years.

The decision was a setback for supporters of the measure, but not an unexpected one: Proponents have braced themselves for pushback and, in many ways, have invited a lengthy legal fight, as part of a larger effort by conservative Christian groups to amplify public expressions of faith.

John W. deGravelles, a U.S. District Court judge appointed to the bench by President Barack Obama, found that the law, which was scheduled to take effect on Jan. 1, was unconstitutional. He forbade the state from enforcing it.

In his decision, Judge deGravelles wrote that the law was “coercive to students, and, for all practical purposes, they cannot opt out of viewing the Ten Commandments when they are displayed in every classroom, every day of the year, every year of their education.”

He added: “There are any number of ways that the state could advance an alleged interest in educating students about the Ten Commandments that would be less burdensome.”

Attorney General Liz Murrill of Louisiana, a Republican, said in a statement that she strongly disagreed with the judge’s decision and would immediately appeal it. Supporters of the bill expect a friendlier reception from the appeals court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, which is considered to be one of the nation’s most conservative courts.