Jun 20, 2025 - Politics

Louisiana's 10 Commandments law unconstitutional, appeals court says

Chelsea Brasted

Illustration of a pencil drawing the letter t in the shape of two crosses on a lined sheet of paper — Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

Louisiana's law requiring the Ten Commandments be posted in all public school classrooms was ruled unconstitutional by a federal appeals court Friday, according to the ACLU, a plaintiff in the case.

Why it matters: The decision brings clarity to state schools after a confusing year in which state leaders and the courts have issued conflicting guidance on whether educators must abide by the law while the lawsuit was being resolved.

The latest: A panel of three judges in the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans, widely considered one of the nation's most conservative, called the law "plainly unconstitutional."

The ruling upholds a lower court's November 2024 decision.

What they said: Pointing to a similar Kentucky case, Stone v. Graham, the judges said the posters bearing the Ten Commandments as described in the Louisiana law "will cause an 'irreparable' deprivation of [the plaintiffs'] First Amendment rights."

The other side: Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill issued a statement Friday saying she "strongly" disagrees with the decision.

"We will immediately seek relief from the full Fifth Circuit and, if necessary, the United States Supreme Court," she said.

Editor's note: This story has been updated with a statement from Louisiana AG Liz Murrill.

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Louisiana's 10 Commandments law unconstitutional, appeals court says

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