Judge Temporarily Blocks Texas Law Requiring Display of Ten Commandments in Schools

A federal judge has temporarily blocked a Texas law that requires public schools to display the Ten Commandments.

The Details: U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia ruled that Senate Bill 10 violates the Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution, which states the government may not establish or favor a particular religion. The order only applies to certain districts, but the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), along with several other organizations, is urging all Texas school districts to ignore the state law. The ACLU had filed the lawsuit on September 22 on behalf of 15 multi-faith families who are part of 14 school districts in Texas.

Key Quote: "I am relieved that as a result of today's ruling, my children, who are among a small number of Jewish children at their schools, will no longer be continually subjected to religious displays," plaintiff Lenee Bien-Willner said in a statement. "The government has no business interfering with parental decisions about matters of faith."

For Context: The ruling comes after Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) signed a law in June requiring school districts to display the Ten Commandments in a "conspicuous location" in each classroom. On Tuesday, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued two schools in Texas for not displaying the Ten Commandments. Arkansas and Louisiana have similar laws, and court challenges there have also resulted in favorable rulings. The cases may eventually reach the Supreme Court.

How the Media Covered It: Sources across the political spectrum noted that religious displays in schools have been regularly contested under the Establishment Clause.

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