From the Louisiana Illuminator: NEW ORLEANS — A federal appellate court has cleared the way for displays of the Ten Commandments in every Louisiana public school classroom, removing an order that stopped state officials from enforcing a law that requires them.
In a decision issued Friday from its full roster of 18 judges, the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a June decision from a three-judge panel that determined the 2024 state law was “plainly unconstitutional” and upheld a preliminary injunction blocking enforcement of the law. Friday’s ruling lifts that injunction and allows the state to mandate all schools display the 10 Commandments in every classroom.”
Five judges on the 5th Circuit dissented with the unsigned majority opinion that placed emphasis on not knowing exact details of what the displays would look like once placed in classrooms. Attorney General Liz Murrill has provided examples and guidance for displays to follow the law, but local school districts have authority to determine what they look like.
Without any context, appellate judges said in the opinion they were unwilling to rule based on conjecture.
The report notes that in a concurring opinion, Judge James Ho, a federal court appointee of President Donald Trump in 2018, wrote, “In sum, the Louisiana Ten Commandments law is not just constitutional — it affirms our Nation’s highest and most noble traditions.”
The ACLU of Louisiana, along with Americans United and the Freedom from Religion Foundation represented the plaintiffs in the case, and issued a joint statement after the ruling vowing to keep fighting it.
The plaintiffs who challenged the mandate were made up of nine families who have children in public schools in five different parishes. The families represented a number of different faiths, and claimed that “the Protestant version of the Ten Commandments the legislature adopted for the classroom displays differs from the versions they follow,” they report states.
The five judges who dissented from the majority opinion were made up of one Clinton appointee, one Biden appointee, and three Obama appointees.
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill announced, “BREAKING NEWS: U.S. Fifth Circuit VACATES preliminary injunction against Louisiana’s 10 Commandments law. Rules challenges are premature – allowing the law to go into effect.”
“Don’t kill or steal shouldn’t be controversial. My office has issued clear guidance to our public schools on how to comply with the law, and we have created multiple examples of posters demonstrating how it can be applied constitutionally. Louisiana public schools should follow the law,” she added.
🚨BREAKING NEWS: U.S. Fifth Circuit VACATES preliminary injunction against Louisiana’s 10 Commandments law. Rules challenges are premature – allowing the law to go into effect.
Don’t kill or steal shouldn’t be controversial. My office has issued clear guidance to our public… pic.twitter.com/krQzOggWr3
— Attorney General Liz Murrill (@AGLizMurrill) February 20, 2026
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry, a Republican, cheered, “Louisiana’s Ten Commandments law is back in effect! Thank you to the Fifth Circuit for this important ruling. Kudos to @AGLizMurrill for not backing down. Common sense is making a comeback!”
🚨Louisiana’s Ten Commandments law is back in effect!
Thank you to the Fifth Circuit for this important ruling. Kudos to @AGLizMurrill for not backing down.
Common sense is making a comeback!
— Governor Jeff Landry (@LAGovJeffLandry) February 21, 2026
The Ten Commandments, which are found in the Bible in two places, Exodus 20:2–17 and Deuteronomy 5:6–21, are as follows:
- I am the Lord thy God. Thou shall not have strange gods before Me.
- Thou shall not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.
- Remember to keep holy the Lord’s day.
- Honor thy father and mother.
- Thou shall not kill.
- Thou shall not commit adultery.
- Thou shall not steal.
- Thou shall not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
- Thou shall not covet thy neighbor’s wife.
- Thou shall not covet thy neighbor’s goods.
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