Federal Judge to Rule on Louisiana Ten Commandments Law by Nov. 15

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – A federal judge has said he will issue a ruling by November 15 on whether Louisiana can enforce a new law requiring every public school classroom to have a poster on the wall with the Ten Commandments, the Advocate reports.

Signed into law by Republican Gov. Jeff Landry in July, Act 676 requires a poster-sized display of the Ten Commandments in “large, easily readable font” in all public classrooms, from kindergarten to state-funded universities. The law provides that the cost of the posters will be covered by donations rather than public state funds. It is set to be implemented on January 1, 2025.

The US Supreme Court struck down a similar Kentucky law in 1980, declaring it to be unconstitutional and a violation of the establishment clause of the U.S. Constitution, which says Congress can “make no law respecting an establishment of religion.”

The Louisiana case arose after parents of children in public schools filed suit against the state, arguing the new law is unconstitutional and violates students’ religious freedom. The five parishes where the plaintiffs’ children attend school are East Baton Rouge, Livingston, Orleans, St. Tammany, and Vernon, the Advocate said.

On Monday (October 21), Baton Rouge federal Judge John deGravelles said he would issue a ruling no later than November 15. “The ball is now officially in my court,” deGravelles said.

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