Judge blocks Louisiana law requiring schools to display Ten Commandments

Federal judge blocks Louisiana law requiring schools to display Ten Commandments

A federal judge blocked a Louisiana law requiring public schools to display the Ten Commandments. The judge ruled that the law violates the First Amendment's Establishment Clause, which prohibits the government from establishing a religion. The law was passed in 2018 and required all public schools in the state to display the Ten Commandments in a "conspicuous place." Several groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union, sued to block the law, arguing that it was unconstitutional. The judge agreed with the plaintiffs, ruling that the law had no secular purpose and was intended to promote religion.

The Ten Commandments are a set of religious laws that were given to Moses by God

The Ten Commandments are a set of religious laws that were given to Moses by God. The commandments are:

1. You shall have no other gods before me.
2. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.
3. You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
4. Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
5. Honor your father and your mother.
6. You shall not murder.
7. You shall not commit adultery.
8. You shall not steal.
9. You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
10. You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.

The Establishment Clause prohibits the government from establishing a religion

The Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution prohibits the government from establishing a religion. This means that the government cannot favor one religion over another or promote religion in general. The Establishment Clause has been interpreted to mean that the government cannot require schools to display religious symbols or teach religious doctrine.

The judge ruled that the Louisiana law violates the Establishment Clause

The judge in the Louisiana case ruled that the law requiring schools to display the Ten Commandments violates the Establishment Clause. The judge found that the law had no secular purpose and was intended to promote religion. The judge also found that the law was not necessary to achieve any legitimate government interest. The judge's ruling is a victory for the plaintiffs and a setback for the state of Louisiana.