Latest news with #TenCommandments
Yahoo
44 minutes ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Federal appeals court rules Louisiana Ten Commandments school law is unconstitutional
A federal appeals court on Friday ruled that a Louisiana law requiring the Ten Commandments to be displayed in all public-school classrooms and state-funded universities in the state is unconstitutional. Three federal appellate judges on the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Louisiana said they affirmed a lower district court's ruling that the statute was "facially unconstitutional." Last June, a group of parents sued the state over concerns the law that went into effect in January violates the separation of church and state. The district court issued a preliminary injunction on the law last November in the five school districts that involve plaintiffs. Arkansas Families Sue To Keep 10 Commandments Out Of Classroom Before New Law Takes Effect "H.B. 71 is plainly unconstitutional. The district court did not err," the appeals court said on Friday, referring to the statute. "H.B. 71's minimum requirements provide sufficient details about how the Ten Commandments must be displayed. Plaintiffs have shown that those displays will cause an "irreparable" deprivation of their First Amendment rights." Read On The Fox News App The law was passed by Louisiana's Republican-controlled legislature last year and says the text of the Ten Commandments must be written in "large, easily readable font." Supreme Court Weighs Religious Liberty Dispute Over Public Funding For Catholic Charter School "The Ten Commandments must be displayed with a 'context statement' about the 'History of the Ten Commandments in American Public Education,' and 'may' be displayed with 'the Mayflower Compact, the Declaration of Independence, and the Northwest Ordinance,'" the statute says. "We are grateful for this decision, which honors the religious diversity and religious-freedom rights of public school families across Louisiana," Rev. Darcy Roake, a plaintiff in the case represented by Americans United for Separation of Church and State, said. "As an interfaith family, we believe that our children should receive their religious education at home and within our faith communities, not from government officials." Rachel Laser, president and CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, said in a statement: "This ruling will ensure that Louisiana families – not politicians or public-school officials – get to decide if, when and how their children engage with religion. It should send a strong message to Christian Nationalists across the country that they cannot impose their beliefs on our nation's public-school children. Not on our watch." Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill said in a statement on Friday that she and her office "strongly disagree" with the ruling, according to "We will immediately seek relief from the full Fifth Circuit and, if necessary, the U.S. Supreme Court," she added. Fox News Digital has reached out to Murrill for comment. Arkansas has a similar law and other Republican states are on the verge of similar article source: Federal appeals court rules Louisiana Ten Commandments school law is unconstitutional
Yahoo
44 minutes ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Louisiana's Ten Commandments law struck down by US appeals court
By Jonathan Stempel (Reuters) -A federal appeals court on Friday blocked Louisiana from enforcing a law requiring the display of the Ten Commandments in all classrooms of the state's public schools and universities. Calling the law "plainly unconstitutional," a three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans unanimously upheld a November 2024 ruling by a lower court judge who enjoined the law's enforcement. It is a victory for parents and students who accused Louisiana of trampling on their religious rights, and a defeat for Republicans and conservative groups trying to make expressions of faith more prominent in society. The appeals court is widely considered among the country's most conservative, though two judges on Friday's panel were appointed by Democratic presidents. According to published reports, Louisiana's Republican attorney general, Liz Murrill, will ask the full appeals court and perhaps eventually the U.S. Supreme Court, which has a 6-3 conservative majority, to review the case. Murrill's office did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Nine families, including several clergy, with children in public schools sued to block the law, saying it violated the First Amendment prohibition against state establishment of religion. "We are grateful for this decision, which honors the religious diversity and religious-freedom rights of public school families across Louisiana," said Darcy Roake, a Unitarian Universalist minister who with her Jewish husband Adrian Van Young is among the plaintiffs. Louisiana's law requires the display of posters or framed versions of the Ten Commandments that are at least 11 inches by 14 inches, with the Commandments being the "central focus" and printed in a large, easy-to-read font. The law, signed by Republican Governor Jeff Landry, covers K-12 schools and state-funded colleges, and was scheduled to take effect on January 1. KENTUCKY PRECEDENT In Friday's decision, Circuit Judge Irma Carrillo Ramirez cited a 1980 Supreme Court decision, Stone v. Graham, that struck down a Kentucky law requiring similar displays of the Ten Commandments because it had no "secular legislative purpose." Louisiana said the Stone decision no longer applied because it relied on a precedent that the Supreme Court has disavowed. It also said that even if Stone applied, Louisiana's case differed because schools could display the Ten Commandments with documents such as the Declaration of Independence, reflecting a secular "historical and educational" purpose. Ramirez, an appointee of Democratic President Joe Biden, nonetheless cited several legislators who expressed religion-based justifications for Louisiana's law. These included that the Ten Commandments were "God's law," and that opponents were waging an "attack" on Christianity. "If the posted copies of the Ten Commandments are to have any effect at all, it will be to induce the schoolchildren to read, meditate upon, perhaps to venerate and obey, the Commandments," Ramirez wrote, quoting the Stone decision. "This is not a permissible state objective." Ramirez also rejected Louisiana's argument that the Supreme Court's 2022 decision favoring a Washington state high school football coach who prayed with players at the 50-yard line after games required upholding the Ten Commandments law. She said this was in part because the Washington case primarily concerned First Amendment provisions governing free speech and the free exercise of religion. Louisiana was the first U.S. state requiring displays of the Ten Commandments since the Kentucky law was struck down. The case is Roake et al v Brumley et al, 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, No. 24-30706.
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Federal appeals court blocks Louisiana's controversial law regarding public schools which put Christianity at the forefront
A federal appeals court has unanimously blocked Louisiana's controversial law requiring public schools to display the Ten Commandments in every classroom, marking a significant victory for civil liberties groups and families who argued the mandate violated the constitutional separation of church and state. The three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit affirmed a lower court's November 2024 decision that deemed the law 'facially unconstitutional' under the First Amendment. The law, enacted this year, required all public K-12 schools and state-funded colleges to prominently display a government-approved version of the Ten Commandments, regardless of classroom subject matter. State officials had provided guidelines for the posters, but implementation was suspended pending legal challenges. 'Parents and students challenge a statute requiring public schools to permanently display the Ten Commandments in every classroom in Louisiana,' the court stated. 'The district court found the statute facially unconstitutional and preliminarily enjoined its enforcement. We affirm.' The ruling cited the precedent set by the 1980 Supreme Court case Stone v. Graham, which struck down a similar Kentucky law as unconstitutional. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Top 25 Most Beautiful Women In The World Articles Vally Civil liberties groups hailed the decision as a crucial safeguard for religious freedom and diversity. 'This is a resounding victory for the separation of church and state and public education,' said Heather L. Weaver, senior staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union . 'Public schools are not Sunday schools, and they must welcome all students, regardless of faith.' Liz Hayes, spokesperson for Americans United for Separation of Church and State, added, 'All school districts in the state are bound to comply with the U.S. Constitution. Thus, all school districts must abide by this decision and should not post the Ten Commandments in their classrooms.' The law had been championed by Republicans, including former President Donald Trump , as part of a broader effort to introduce religious displays in public spaces. Supporters argued the Ten Commandments are foundational to U.S. law and history. However, opponents countered that the mandate would isolate non-Christian students and violate their rights. Live Events Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill expressed strong disagreement with the ruling, stating her intent to appeal to the full Fifth Circuit and, if necessary, the U.S. Supreme Court. The case now moves closer to possible Supreme Court review , which could set a national precedent for similar laws in other states.
Economic Times
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Economic Times
Federal appeals court blocks Louisiana's controversial law regarding public schools which put Christianity at the forefront
AP A copy of the Ten Commandments (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File) A federal appeals court has unanimously blocked Louisiana's controversial law requiring public schools to display the Ten Commandments in every classroom, marking a significant victory for civil liberties groups and families who argued the mandate violated the constitutional separation of church and three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit affirmed a lower court's November 2024 decision that deemed the law 'facially unconstitutional' under the First Amendment. The law, enacted this year, required all public K-12 schools and state-funded colleges to prominently display a government-approved version of the Ten Commandments, regardless of classroom subject matter. State officials had provided guidelines for the posters, but implementation was suspended pending legal challenges.'Parents and students challenge a statute requiring public schools to permanently display the Ten Commandments in every classroom in Louisiana,' the court stated. 'The district court found the statute facially unconstitutional and preliminarily enjoined its enforcement. We affirm.' The ruling cited the precedent set by the 1980 Supreme Court case Stone v. Graham, which struck down a similar Kentucky law as unconstitutional. Civil liberties groups hailed the decision as a crucial safeguard for religious freedom and diversity. 'This is a resounding victory for the separation of church and state and public education,' said Heather L. Weaver, senior staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union. 'Public schools are not Sunday schools, and they must welcome all students, regardless of faith.' Liz Hayes, spokesperson for Americans United for Separation of Church and State, added, 'All school districts in the state are bound to comply with the U.S. Constitution. Thus, all school districts must abide by this decision and should not post the Ten Commandments in their classrooms.' The law had been championed by Republicans, including former President Donald Trump, as part of a broader effort to introduce religious displays in public spaces. Supporters argued the Ten Commandments are foundational to U.S. law and history. However, opponents countered that the mandate would isolate non-Christian students and violate their rights. Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill expressed strong disagreement with the ruling, stating her intent to appeal to the full Fifth Circuit and, if necessary, the U.S. Supreme Court. The case now moves closer to possible Supreme Court review, which could set a national precedent for similar laws in other states.
Reuters
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Louisiana's Ten Commandments law struck down by US appeals court
June 20 (Reuters) - A federal appeals court on Friday blocked Louisiana from enforcing a law requiring the display of the Ten Commandments in all classrooms of the state's public schools and universities. Calling the law "plainly unconstitutional," a three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans unanimously upheld a November 2024 ruling by a lower court judge who enjoined the law's enforcement. It is a victory for parents and students who accused Louisiana of trampling on their religious rights, and a defeat for Republicans and conservative groups trying to make expressions of faith more prominent in society. The appeals court is widely considered among the country's most conservative, though two judges on Friday's panel were appointed by Democratic presidents. According to published reports, Louisiana's Republican attorney general, Liz Murrill, will ask the full appeals court and perhaps eventually the U.S. Supreme Court, which has a 6-3 conservative majority, to review the case. Murrill's office did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Nine families, including several clergy, with children in public schools sued to block the law, saying it violated the First Amendment prohibition against state establishment of religion. "We are grateful for this decision, which honors the religious diversity and religious-freedom rights of public school families across Louisiana," said Darcy Roake, a Unitarian Universalist minister who with her Jewish husband Adrian Van Young is among the plaintiffs. Louisiana's law requires the display of posters or framed versions of the Ten Commandments that are at least 11 inches by 14 inches, with the Commandments being the "central focus" and printed in a large, easy-to-read font. The law, signed by Republican Governor Jeff Landry, covers K-12 schools and state-funded colleges, and was scheduled to take effect on January 1. In Friday's decision, Circuit Judge Irma Carrillo Ramirez cited a 1980 Supreme Court decision, Stone v. Graham, that struck down a Kentucky law requiring similar displays of the Ten Commandments because it had no "secular legislative purpose." Louisiana said the Stone decision no longer applied because it relied on a precedent that the Supreme Court has disavowed. It also said that even if Stone applied, Louisiana's case differed because schools could display the Ten Commandments with documents such as the Declaration of Independence, reflecting a secular "historical and educational" purpose. Ramirez, an appointee of Democratic President Joe Biden, nonetheless cited several legislators who expressed religion-based justifications for Louisiana's law. These included that the Ten Commandments were "God's law," and that opponents were waging an "attack" on Christianity. "If the posted copies of the Ten Commandments are to have any effect at all, it will be to induce the schoolchildren to read, meditate upon, perhaps to venerate and obey, the Commandments," Ramirez wrote, quoting the Stone decision. "This is not a permissible state objective." Ramirez also rejected Louisiana's argument that the Supreme Court's 2022 decision favoring a Washington state high school football coach who prayed with players at the 50-yard line after games required upholding the Ten Commandments law. She said this was in part because the Washington case primarily concerned First Amendment provisions governing free speech and the free exercise of religion. Louisiana was the first U.S. state requiring displays of the Ten Commandments since the Kentucky law was struck down. The case is Roake et al v Brumley et al, 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, No. 24-30706.
