Louisiana urges the full Fifth Circuit to reinstate its Ten Commandments classroom law, challenging ACLU objections and defending America’s religious heritage.
Louisiana has launched a major legal counteroffensive, petitioning the full U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit to restore its right to display the Ten Commandments in every public school classroom—an act the state argues is firmly grounded in America’s cultural and historical foundations, JNS reported Thursday.
The law, passed in June 2024, was blocked by a federal district judge before a three-judge Fifth Circuit panel upheld the injunction. But in a significant development, the entire Fifth Circuit has now agreed to rehear the case, giving Louisiana a new opportunity to defend what it calls a vital piece of American tradition.
In its sharply worded brief, the state argues that acknowledging the Ten Commandments is neither coercive nor unconstitutional—it is a recognition of the historical role religion has played in shaping American law, ethics, and civic life.
“Religious symbols have been a fixture of American public life since before the founding,”
the state wrote, pointing to the Founders’ early proposals for the Great Seal and the prominent Ten Commandments reliefs carved into the U.S. Supreme Court building itself.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, who represents Louisiana, has openly championed the measure, insisting the law is both harmless and beneficial.
“I’m supportive of it,” Johnson said. “I think it should pass court muster… it’s not offensive. It’s a positive thing.”
Oral arguments before the full Fifth Circuit are set for January 20, a date that could mark a turning point in the national debate over religion, education, and the Constitution. A ruling in Louisiana’s favor could ignite similar legislation in other states—while delivering a sharp blow to the ACLU’s long-running campaign to purge religious expression from the public square.
